The Role of Process Knowledge in a Business Process Improvement Methodology

The newly established holistic approach to BPM (Business Process Management) has led to increased recognition of the knowledge and experience people develop, use and share while modelling, executing and improving their business processes. However, this knowledge perspective is often neglected by the current BP improvement methodologies. Our empirical research confirms that business process improvement is, in fact, a complex, knowledge-intensive, collaborative process that consists of a set of coordinated, contextualised knowledge management processes. This paper describes the results of our on-going research project that, among other things, aims to investigate the role of individual and collective process knowledge developed and used in a business process improvement methodology deployed in a real-life, complex organization

Software process improvement as emergent change: a structurational analysis

This thesis differs from the technological perspective of SPI by identifying and analysing the organisational features of process improvement. A theoretical understanding is developed of how and why software process improvements occur and what are the consequences of the change process within a specific case. A packaged information systems organisation forms the basis for a substantive case study. Adding to the growing body of qualitative research, the study takes a critical hermeneutic perspective. In doing so it overcomes some of the criticisms of the interpretive studies especially the need for the research to be reflexive in nature. By looking at SPI as an emergent rather than deterministic activity, the design and action of the change process are shown to be intertwined and shaped by their context. This understanding is based upon a structurational perspective that highlights how the process improvements are enabled and constrained by their context. The work builds on the recent recognition that the improvements can be understood from an organisational learning perspective. Fresh insights to the improvement process are developed by recognising the role of the individual to facilitate or resist the improvement. The understanding gained here can be applied by organisations to enable them to improve the effectiveness of their SPI programmes, and so improve the quality of their software. Lessons are derived that show how software organisations can support the ongoing improvement through recognition of the learning and political aspects of the change by adopting an agile approach to SPI

Epistemic roles of materiality within a collaborative invention project at a secondary school

In this study, we examined maker‐centred learning from an epistemic perspective, highlighting the agentic role of material engagement and artefacts in learning and creativity. The use of physical materials plays a crucial role in maker activities where the socio‐epistemic aspects of knowledge creation entangle with the designing and making of physical artefacts. By taking a case study perspective, we analysed video data from nine design sessions involving a team of students (aged 13 to 14) developing an invention. First, we analysed knowledge that was built during the process. Our analysis revealed how design ideas evolved from preliminary to final stages and, together with the expressed design problems and conversations preceding the ideas, formed an epistemic object pursued by the team. Next, we included non‐human agencies into the analysis to understand the role of materials in the process. Features of materials and human design intentions both constrained and enabled idea improvement and knowledge creation, intermixing meanings and materials. Material making invited the students to not only rely on human rationalisation, but also to think together with the materials.In this study, we examined maker-centred learning from an epistemic perspective, highlighting the agentic role of material engagement and artefacts in learning and creativity. The use of physical materials plays a crucial role in maker activities where the socio-epistemic aspects of knowledge creation entangle with the designing and making of physical artefacts. By taking a case study perspective, we analysed video data from nine design sessions involving a team of students (aged 13 to 14) developing an invention. First, we analysed knowledge that was built during the process. Our analysis revealed how design ideas evolved from preliminary to final stages and, together with the expressed design problems and conversations preceding the ideas, formed an epistemic object pursued by the team. Next, we included non-human agencies into the analysis to understand the role of materials in the process. Features of materials and human design intentions both constrained and enabled idea improvement and knowledge creation, intermixing meanings and materials. Material making invited the students to not only rely on human rationalisation, but also to think together with the materials.Peer reviewe

The prescriptive quality of 11 design principles for knowledge productivity

This study explores the learning processes that contribute to knowledge productivity: gradual improvement and radical innovation of an organisation’s operating procedures, products, and services, based on the development and application of new knowledge. The research is based on the assumption that innovation is the result of a series of powerful social learning processes. Previous research revealed a set of eleven design principles that reflect factors that really matter in an innovation process. The study at hand presents how these design principles facilitate the design of an innovation practice. Review workshops and design workshops were used to answer the main research question: How do the design principles facilitate the design of an innovation practice? The data reveals that the design principles do not work as prescriptive rules that in a specific combination, applied to a predefined situation, will result in certain effects. Every design principle offers a new perspective on the innovation practice. This new perspective helps to get new ideas for interventions in the innovation practice. After the design of these interventions it is mainly the facilitator who has an important role in making it a success. If he sees opportunities and is capable, then he can use the interventions to create breakthroughs in the innovation practice

Grant agreement for project financed by EU funds – what improvements are necessary to support the absorption of EU funding in Croatia?

Grant Agreement in EU financed projects is an important segment of project implementation therefore its role is the key to better absorption of EU funding. In the upcoming financial perspective (2021 – 2027), it is necessary to improve project preparation process, increase the equality of parties as well as simplify the procedure of amending the Grant Agreement in order to increase project implementation effectiveness and achievement of project objectives thus contributing towards better absorption of EU funds. The objective of this paper is to identify and analyze key areas of the Grant Agreement that could be amended for the upcoming financial perspective and provide recommendations for improvement

Conflicts and Compatibilities in the Priorities Axes in the Architecture of the Production Systems

In an economic environment where more and more emphasis is being placed on increasing company’s performance and on the continuous improvement of business processes, companies face new challenges. On one hand they must address the existing market demand strictly observing the requirements of customers and the conditions imposed by competitors, on the other hand they should use the resources available in an effective manner in terms of lowest incurred costs and highest efficiency level. From this perspective, the article outlines the need to introduce systems of priority management in order to ensure the balance between the decisions in company's internal environment and the external environment’s restrictions. The approach of priorities by companies’ management has an overwhelming role in the process of correlating the available resources and capacity with the set objectives. Considering these aspects, the present article aims at defining a coordinate system as a reference point for identifying and managing companies’ priorities.priority management; priority axes and rules; long-term thinking; the goal of the business.

Inclusão escolar: a perspectiva italiana analisada em estudo sobre a percepção de professores

The perspective observed in Italy about the school inclusion refers to a reality continually changing based on the school inclusion policy generalized to the country context. The knowledge associated with this perspective and the increasing new issues and challenges requires an unceasing improvement of the inclusive processes. The data displayed in this paper refers to an investigation conducted with teachers on their training process by means of an anonymous questionnaire involving five thematic areas. The research highlights the educational profiles, the skills of teachers in training and their perspectives regarding school inclusion. From the analysis of the data we are able to identify the important role of Special Education and Didactics on the enhancement of the inclusive processes in the context of school

Performance Analysis Based on Balanced Scorecard Department Capital and Project Management PT. Vale Indonesia Tbk in 2015

Performance appraisal plays an important role in the business world, because with the performance appraisal can be known the effectiveness of the determination of a strategy and its application within a certain period. Performance appraisal can detect weaknesses or deficiencies that still exist within the company, for further improvement in the future. This research was conducted at PT. Vale Indonesia Tbk. Department of Capital and Project Management. Data were collected using questionnaires, interviews, and observations. After all data collected and processed then performed data analysis using Financial Perspective Analysis, Data Analysis Questionnaire, then diguanakan tools balance scorcard. The results of this study can be seen from several aspects that are based on the assessment of customer perspective variables above, the total value of overall customer perspective of 3.49, the financial perspective of Capital and Project Management Department seen from the ratio of liquidity and solvalitas better than the standard size industry. When viewed from the ratio of activities, the collection period is better and total asset turnover is below industry value, while the cost recovery rate of Capital and Project Management Department is above ideal value, the three variables from the process perspective, the overall value of internal business process perspective performance is 3 , 66 which can be categorized good enough, variable of learning perspective and growth above, hence can be calculated value of whole variable of learning and growth perspective equal to 3,68 and the value entered in category enough baik.Balanced Scoreccard can measure performance which include financial perspective, Customer, internal business process perspective, and learning and growth perspective to obtain recapitulation of all aspects

Innovation Resistance: The Main Factors and Ways to Overcome Them

The paper shows the importance of innovation with regard to the economic well-being. The paper reflects the definition of the innovation resistance and the role of inertia in the innovation process. The innovation process is considered not only in terms of technical or technological changes, but also from the position of institutional transformations. The types and levels of innovation resistance are specified on the basis of the earlier studied literature. In addition, endogenous and exogenous factors of innovative resistance from the perspective of organization are determined. A general complex of approaches to overcoming the resistance to innovation changes is considered. The paper represents reasoning about the role of economic culture in the context of institutional changes. Finally, the author gives the arguments in favor of the fact that overcoming resistance to innovation changes for conducting economic transformations and improvement in the economic well-being is a must