Understanding the effects of e-business on business processes, a simulation approach

This thesis defines a new approach to the analysis of the effect of e-business on business processes, utilising simulation as evaluation tool. This research was focused on answering five research questions about the suitability of simulation in this context, the role of static modelling and generic business processes, the identification of patterns for e-business activities and how to operationalise these patterns into components in simulation software, as well as how to use these components. Requirements for modelling of e-business processes were identified and documented. Pilot cases studies proved the potential of simulation for studying e-business processes (Feasibility). Generic e-business activities were derived and classified from the literature and case studies in order to fill gaps identified in existent process models. Re-usable simulation components are proposed as a result of the unique combination of simulation and e-activities in order to make simulation modelling of e-business easier. The components were tested in industrial case studies and quasi-experiments with end users for feasibility, usability and usefulness. Results show that the components' approach is feasible, that having re-usable components promotes a better analysis, (usefulness) and that it is easy to build models using the components (usability). The theoretical novelty of this research resides in bringing together three areas of study: ebusiness, simulation and business processes to analyse e-business implementations. The research contributes to the knowledge of components and re-use theory in simulation by proposing a new approach to component development, operationalisation and analysis of the degree of granularity required for these components. From a practical point of view, this research provides companies with an easier and more complete way of analysing e-business processes, breaking the barrier for the use of simulation, speeding up model building of eprocesses and getting a better understanding of the dynamics of e-processes. Future work in the area will include extending the component approach to supply chains and inter-company transactions.This thesis defines a new approach to the analysis of the effect of e-business on business processes, utilising simulation as evaluation tool. This research was focused on answering five research questions about the suitability of simulation in this context, the role of static modelling and generic business processes, the identification of patterns for e-business activities and how to operationalise these patterns into components in simulation software, as well as how to use these components. Requirements for modelling of e-business processes were identified and documented. Pilot cases studies proved the potential of simulation for studying e-business processes (Feasibility). Generic e-business activities were derived and classified from the literature and case studies in order to fill gaps identified in existent process models. Re-usable simulation components are proposed as a result of the unique combination of simulation and e-activities in order to make simulation modelling of e-business easier. The components were tested in industrial case studies and quasi-experiments with end users for feasibility, usability and usefulness. Results show that the components' approach is feasible, that having re-usable components promotes a better analysis, (usefulness) and that it is easy to build models using the components (usability). The theoretical novelty of this research resides in bringing together three areas of study: ebusiness, simulation and business processes to analyse e-business implementations. The research contributes to the knowledge of components and re-use theory in simulation by proposing a new approach to component development, operationalisation and analysis of the degree of granularity required for these components. From a practical point of view, this research provides companies with an easier and more complete way of analysing e-business processes, breaking the barrier for the use of simulation, speeding up model building of eprocesses and getting a better understanding of the dynamics of e-processes. Future work in the area will include extending the component approach to supply chains and inter-company transactions

Performance Analysis Of The E-Procurement Process Using Simulation

This study discusses how simulation is used to model and simulate the internal e-Procurement process of a factory. The objective of this study is to analyze the performance of the e-Procurement process and recommend area of improvement to the factory e-Procurement process to improve the competitiveness of the factory in the world of e-Business. The study uses a statistical analysis method to measure the inputs and outputs of the model. For the input analysis section, it presents the data collection method and assumptions used. The model is built using Arena, a simulation software used for discrete event simulation. The output analysis and model experimentation were carried out after the completion of model building. The verification and validatialn of the output model showed the reliability of the model built to represent the process of real system accurately. Two What-If models were analyzed and discussed in this study. Finally, some recommendations were presented based on the What-If result, for the improvement of an e-Procurement process and future work

Specification of e-business process model for PayPal online payment process using Reo

E-business process modeling allows business analysts to better understand and analyze the business processes, and eventually to use software systems to automate (parts of) these business processes to achieve higher profit. To support e-business process modeling, many business process modeling languages have been used as tools. However, many existing business process modeling languages lack (a) formal semantics, (b) formal computational model, and (c) an integrated view of the business process being modeled. In this paper, we assess the effectiveness of the Reo coordination language as a business process modeling language. We present a specification of PayPal online payment business process model using Reo and evaluate Reo according to the criteria of e-business process modeling with respect to (a) language expressiveness, (b) visual notation and language semantics, (c) analysis and reasoning, (d) simulation and executio

Integration of e-business strategy for multi-lifecycle production systems

Internet use has grown exponentially on the last few years becoming a global communication and business resource. Internet-based business, or e-Business will truly affect every sector of the economy in ways that today we can only imagine. The manufacturing sector will be at the forefront of this change. This doctoral dissertation provides a scientific framework and a set of novel decision support tools for evaluating, modeling, and optimizing the overall performance of e-Business integrated multi-lifecycle production systems. The characteristics of this framework include environmental lifecycle study, environmental performance metrics, hyper-network model of integrated e-supply chain networks, fuzzy multi-objective optimization method, discrete-event simulation approach, and scalable enterprise environmental management system design. The dissertation research reveals that integration of e-Business strategy into production systems can alter current industry practices along a pathway towards sustainability, enhancing resource productivity, improving cost efficiencies and reducing lifecycle environmental impacts. The following research challenges and scholarly accomplishments have been addressed in this dissertation: Identification and analysis of environmental impacts of e-Business. A pioneering environmental lifecycle study on the impact of e-Business is conducted, and fuzzy decision theory is further applied to evaluate e-Business scenarios in order to overcome data uncertainty and information gaps; Understanding, evaluation, and development of environmental performance metrics. Major environmental performance metrics are compared and evaluated. A universal target-based performance metric, developed jointly with a team of industry and university researchers, is evaluated, implemented, and utilized in the methodology framework; Generic framework of integrated e-supply chain network. The framework is based on the most recent research on large complex supply chain network model, but extended to integrate demanufacturers, recyclers, and resellers as supply chain partners. Moreover, The e-Business information network is modeled as a overlaid hypernetwork layer for the supply chain; Fuzzy multi-objective optimization theory and discrete-event simulation methods. The solution methods deal with overall system parameter trade-offs, partner selections, and sustainable decision-making; Architecture design for scalable enterprise environmental management system. This novel system is designed and deployed using knowledge-based ontology theory, and XML techniques within an agent-based structure. The implementation model and system prototype are also provided. The new methodology and framework have the potential of being widely used in system analysis, design and implementation of e-Business enabled engineering systems

A Fuzzy Bayesian Network Model for Quality Control in O2O e-Commerce

With the popularization of the online to offline (O2O) e-commerce on fresh food products, how to control the quality is becoming increasingly important. To adequately address this problem, this paper presents a fuzzy Bayesian network model for effectively controlling the quality in O2O ecommerce. Reasoning about uncertain events and incomplete data through an intelligent simulation with Bayesian networks provides a convenient and fast method of evaluation and analysis for e-commerce platforms to quickly select fresh food suppliers. Such a model is capable of appropriately modelling the uncertainty inherent in the fresh food product distribution process. It focuses on the identification of the critical factors that affect the food product quality along the supply chain. This leads to the development of a complete selection and evaluation system for the quality in O2O e-commerce. A simulation study is conducted that shows the proposed model is applicable for effectively controlling the quality in O2O e-commerce. Ultimately, the unloading level, warehouse inspection and warehouse monitoring are determined as the entry points for quality control, with corresponding degrees of influence of 44%, 37%, and 34%. The main points to protect the quality of food are introduced, which provides a theoretical basis for solving fresh food safety problems for business platforms

E-commerce Simulation Game as an Entrepreneurial Learning Medium

The entrepreneurial spirit of students needs to be cultivated as it can help them to open various opportunities, explore self-potential and earn maximum income, and help the society to create new jobs. Entrepreneurial activities must be well planned and analyzed, and outlined in a business plan to increase the chance of success and minimize the risk. It is difficult to provide real entrepreneurial experiences in courses. Therefore, supporting media is needed. The aim of this research was to produce a simulation game application which provides students with a virtual entrepreneurial experience, in a form of e-commerce. The ADDIE development model method was used, which divided the development stages into five steps: Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation and Evaluation. The final product was a simulation game application that requires the player to carry out 5 stages. The player must create a business plan by deciding and modifying the values of the various variables provided in each stage. Validation by an expert in the content showed that the game was categorized as very good as they obtained an average score of 4.36 (on a scale of 0-5). Meanwhile, the expert in media obtained an average score of 4.47, which showed the game as very good. Moreover, this game application was well received by the users and their average score was 4.53. Keywords: simulation game, e-commerce, entrepreneurship, entrepreneuria

Pandemics trends in E-commerce: drop shipping entrepreneurship during COVID-19 pandemic

Drop shipping represents a delivery business model based on e-commerce logistics, which is very relevant in the global pandemic crisis. In this model, buyers order products and services directly from the manufacturer over the Internet through the intermediary of a drop shipper who ensures the easiest and fastest delivery. Drop shipper is a type of e-commerce entrepreneur that offers goods using online logistics infrastructure to ensure direct physical delivery from the manufacturer to the retailer or customer. This includes drop shipping as a business model to Industry 4.0 (i.e. the digital economy). This paper elaborates how a particular e-commerce model affects the development and improvement of global supply chains. Aim of this paper is to research how entrepreneur can lower its costs along drop shipping supply chain by managing inventory ratios or cost of stock. This enables drop shipping to greatly facilitate market access for cash-strapped entrepreneurs. We also conducted a simulation of optimized drop shipping process to show that there is a constant adaptability for entrepreneurs using drop shipping, especially among small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The timeliness of drop shipping is that it has facilitated as a global delivery solution in relation to the coronavirus disease pandemic (COVID-19). Moreover, drop shipping is based on a Activity-Based Costing (ABC model) whose quantitative efficiency has been proven by scientific analysis and research results. Finally, the legal aspects of drop shipping are given importance in the situation of COVID-19 which had a crucial impact on international trade in 2020, especially in predicting short-term trade trends. Due to this within this paper we also examined the effects of the ˝coronavirus˝ on global e-commerce. Global drop shipping data ensures qualitative predictions considering pandemic environment, social distancing issues and internet trade curves which are more than useful in today’s changing business conditions

Modeling dynamic interactions in supply chains using agentbased simulations

In this work, we present preliminary results of our research on the construction of an agent-based simulation framework suitable to support the analysis of complex supply chain interactions as the one required for the performance assessment in collaborative supply chains. In particular we focus in the modeling of dynamic interactions through agent-to-agent message communication avoiding predefined supply chain network structures. For defining the internal structure of agents we explore the application of the SCOR reference model to bring a business process perspective and adopt the requirement of making explicit separation of the execution and control and decision making processes.Sociedad Argentina de Informática e Investigación Operativ

Modeling dynamic interactions in supply chains using agentbased simulations

In this work, we present preliminary results of our research on the construction of an agent-based simulation framework suitable to support the analysis of complex supply chain interactions as the one required for the performance assessment in collaborative supply chains. In particular we focus in the modeling of dynamic interactions through agent-to-agent message communication avoiding predefined supply chain network structures. For defining the internal structure of agents we explore the application of the SCOR reference model to bring a business process perspective and adopt the requirement of making explicit separation of the execution and control and decision making processes.Sociedad Argentina de Informática e Investigación Operativ