Towards a novel framework for the assessment of enterprise application integration packages

In addressing enterprise integration problems, a diversity of technologies such as CORBA and XML were promoted, yet no single integration technology solves all integration problems. As a result, a new generation of software called Enterprise Application Integration (EAI) is emerging to addresses many integration problems by combining a diversity of integration technologies (e.g. message brokers, adapters, XML). Since EAI is a new research area, there is an absence of literature discussing issues like its adoption, evaluation and implementation. This paper, examines the application of two frameworks for the evaluation of EAI packages in the practical arena. In doing so, the authors use case study strategy to investigate integration issues. Empirical data derived from the case study suggest additions to the two evaluation frameworks. Therefore, the authors revised and extend previous works by proposing a novel evaluation framework for the assessment of EAI packages. The proposed framework makes novel contribution at two levels. First, at the conceptual level, as it incorporates criteria identified separately in previous studies as evaluation criteria. The proposed framework can be used as a decision-making tool and, supports management when taking decisions regarding the adoption of EAI. Additionally, it can be used by researchers to analyse and understand the capabilities o

Towards a methodology for the development of integrated IT infrastructures

In this paper, the authors propose and validate a methodology for the development of integrated Information Technology (IT) infrastructures. The motivation for putting forward a new methodology is grounded on the limitations of the various software engineering methodologies (traditional) that exist today. Despite that the traditional methodologies result in the development of Information Systems (IS) from scratch, Enterprise Application Integration (EAI) builds integrated IT infrastructures using existing applications. This significant difference is associated with many issues needed to be realised and addressed like: (a) the changes that such an infrastructure brings to organisations, (b) the resistance to change and (c) the extension of IS lifecycle’s. The proposed methodology consist of eight stages and aims at supporting software engineers, organisations and researchers to build integrated IT infrastructures. As a result the methodology seeks to contribute to the body of knowledge

Towards enterprise application integration principles for facility management software in hospitals

Currently, hospitals have often installed up to 100 software applications within the non-medical support services (FM). The applications are mostly uncoordinated and only accessible for employees of certain sub-areas. Therefore, data is often stored redundantly, has to be transferred manually and some stakeholders are unaware of data locations and/or cannot access the data. In order to become more efficient, to save resources and to increase (data) quality, hospitals are now forced to find solutions in their processes and IT architecture - in the area of FM as well. Enterprise Application Integration (EAI) is an approach which has been applied to overcome this problem in other industries and partially also in the medical context in hospitals, but so far not including FM. During the latest research in non-medical support services in hospitals, connections and information needs between the different FM disciplines in hospitals became clearer. Extending these findings with the EAI principles in an explorative approach, the basis for future systematic integration of FM applications in hospitals is presented in this paper

ApplikaS : Applikationenkatalog für nicht-medizinische Supportleistungen in Spitälern

Um die Komplexität der vielseitigen Daten - auch in den nicht-medizinischen Supportleistungen in Spitälern [FM in HC] - im Hinblick auf mehr Transparenz handhaben zu können, sind Spitäler auf den Einsatz von geeigneten und sinnvoll abgestimmten Softwareapplikationen angewiesen. Bisher wurde der Integration und Abstimmung der nicht-medizinischen Applikationen sowohl in der Theorie, als auch in der Praxis wenig Beachtung geschenkt. Ziel war es daher, durch Befragungen eine Übersicht über die Situation der eingesetzten Applikationen im Bereich der nicht-medizinischen Supportleistungen zu erhalten und aufgrund von Recherchen zu eruieren, welche Applikationen auf dem Markt in Bezug auf eine möglichst umfangreiche Funktionalitäten-Abdeckung für den Spitalbetrieb vorhanden und geeignet sind. Diese Grundlagen sollen einerseits die Ausgangslage beleuchten und somit FM in HC- und auch IT-Verantwortliche in der Thematik sensibilisieren und andererseits auch Anbietern den Bedarf an Abstimmung innerhalb des FM-Bereichs aufzeigen. Der Applikationenkatalog ApplikaS ist, zusammen mit dem Kennzahlenmodell KenmoS und dem Prozessmodell PromoS, Teil des Referenzmodells für nicht-medizinische Supportleistungen in Spitälern RemoS und Basis für den Leitfaden zum Einsatz von SAP für das Facility Management im Gesundheitswesen LesapS und das Assessment-, Simulations- und Benchmarking-Tool für das Facility Management im Gesundheitswesen

Version 1.0 – based on German original

In order to be able to handle the complexity of the various data with regard to more transparency – also in the non-medical support services in hospitals [FM in HC] – hospitals are dependent on suitable and usefully aligned software applications. Until recently, the integration and alignment of the non-medical applications was given scant attention both in theory as wall as in practice. The goal was therefore to gain an overview of the situation of the implemented applications by means of a survey and, on the basis of research, to determine which applications are available on the market and suitable to cover as many functionalities in the hospital operations as possible. These fundamentals should firstly shed light on the current situation and thus sensitize managers of FM in HC and as well as those in IT to the topic, and secondly, reveal the requirements for alignment within the FM area to the suppliers. The Application Catalogue ApplikaS, together with the Key Performance Indicator Catalogue KenkaS and the Process Model PromoS are part of the Reference Model for Non-Medical Support Services in Hospitals RemoS and the basis for the Guideline for applying SAP for the Facility Management in Healthcare in Healthcare LesapS and the IT-supported Assessment, Simulation and Benchmarking Tool for Facility Management in Healthcare. All topics mentioned are documented separately in detail and can, together via interlinks to other documents, be downloaded and thus implemented under www.zhaw.ch/ifm/fm-healthcare/remos/en

An Updated ERP Systems Annotated Bibliography: 2001-2005

The goal of this study is to provide an updated annotated bibliography of ERP publications published in the main IS conferences and journals during the period 2001-2005, categorizing them through an ERP lifecycle based framework that is structured in phases. The first version of this bibliography was published in 2001 (Esteves and Pastor, 2001c). However, so far, we have extended the bibliography with a significant number of new publications in all the categories used in this paper. We also reviewed the categories and some incongruities were eliminated. Furthermore, we present topics for further research in each phase

Enterprise reference architectures for higher education institutions: Analysis, comparison and practical uses

Enterprise Architecture (EA) is currently accepted as one on the major instruments for enabling organisations in their transformation processes to achieve business-technology alignment. Despite that over the last years EA has been successfully adopted in many industries, Higher Education still represents one of the sectors with lower levels of adoption and maturity of EA practices. The present thesis puts the emphasis particularly on the study Enterprise Reference Architectures (ERAs), as a particular type of EA artefact, in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). After formally clarifying the concept of ERAs and giving a panoramic view of the current state-of-the-art of existing HEI-oriented ERAs, the thesis proposes an artefact framework build through a Design Science Research (DSR) approach aimed to facilitate practitioners their (re-)use or application in their own real practical settings. The purpose of the constructed artefact is to support practitioners when conducting the necessary adjustments to exiting HEI-oriented ERAs in order to be successfully applied for their specific needs.La Arquitectura Empresarial (AE) es actualmente reconocida como una disciplina que permite configurar procesos de trasformación organizativa a objeto de alinear el negocio con la tecnología. A pesar de que en los últimos años la AE se ha ido adoptando progresivamente de forma exitosa en diversas industrias, la educación superior representa todavía hoy en día uno de los sectores con menores niveles de adopción y de madurez en lo que se refiere a las prácticas de AE. La presente tesis hace especial hincapié en el estudio de las Arquitecturas de Referencia Empresariales (AREs), entendidas como un artefacto específico de AE, en Instituciones de Educación Superior (IES). Así, después de clarificar formalmente el concepto de ARE y de ofrecer una visión panorámica del estado del arte relativo a las AREs para IES existentes, la tesis propone un framework de trabajo construido a través de un enfoque de investigación basado en la Ciencia del diseño destinado a facilitar su (re-)utilización o aplicación práctica en dominios de trabajo reales. El objetivo del artefacto es proporcionar soporte práctico a los profesionales para realizar los ajustes necesarios a las AREs para IES existentes para que puedan aplicarlas con éxito a sus necesidades específicas.L'Arquitectura Empresarial (AE) és actualment reconeguda com una disciplina que permet configurar processos de transformació organitzatius a fi d'alinear el negoci amb la tecnologia. Tot i que en els darrers anys l'AE s'ha anat adoptant progressivament amb èxit en diverses indústries, l'educació superior representa encara avui dia un dels sectors amb menors nivells d'adopció i de maduresa pel que fa a pràctiques d'AE. Aquesta tesi posa especial èmfasi en l'estudi de les Arquitectures de Referència Empresarials (AREs), enteses com un artefacte concret d'AE, a Institucions d'Educació Superior (IES). Així, després d'aclarir formalment el concepte d'ARE i oferir una visió panoràmica de l'estat de l'art relatiu a les ARE per a IES existents, la tesi proposa un framework de treball construït a través d'un enfocament de recerca basat en la ciència del disseny destinat a facilitar-ne la seva (re-)utilització o aplicació pràctica en dominis de treball reals. L'objectiu de l'artefacte és proporcionar suport pràctic als professionals per realitzar els ajustaments necessaris a les AREs per a IES existents de forma que les puguin aplicar amb èxit a les seves necessitats específiques.Tecnologies de la informació i de xarxe

Investigating enterprise application integration (EAI) adoption in the local government authorities (LGAs)

This thesis was submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and awarded by Brunel University.This thesis focuses on investigating Enterprise Application Integration (EAI) adoption in the Local Government Authorities (LGAs). EAI has emerged to support organisations to integrate their Information Technology (IT) infrastructures and deliver high quality of services. Despite the fact that several private and public organisations have adopted EAI, its application in LGAs is limited. This may illustrate that LGAs develop EAI solutions at a slower pace and they can be characterised as a laggard comparing to other sectors. The small number of EAI applications in LGAs has resulted in limited research in this area with many issues, like its adoption requiring further investigation. Literature indicates various models that analyse various factors influencing EAI adoption in the private and public domain. However, the applicability and validity of these models is arguable and under research in LGAs, as these were proposed to support the decision-making process in other sectors and not in LGAs. To the best of the researcher's knowledge, none of the existing EAI adoption models explored the importance of factors during different phases of the adoption lifecycle. Notwithstanding, the implications of EAI have yet to be assessed, leaving scope for timeliness and novel research. Thus, the researcher demonstrates that it is of high importance to investigate this area within LGAs and result in research that contributes towards successful EAI adoption. This thesis makes a step forward and contributes to the body of knowledge as it: investigates factors influencing the decision making process for EAI adoption in LGAs (Figure 3.2), analyses and proposes the adoption lifecycle phases (Figure 3.3), maps and prioritises the importance of EAI adoption factors on different phases of the adoption lifecycle (Chapter 5 for empirical results) and in doing so, to propose a model for EAI adoption in LGAs (Figure 3.7). The researcher claims that such an EAI adoption process in LGAs is significant and novel as: it extends established norms for EAI adoption, by including Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) technique for prioritising the importance of factors, thus, enabling LGAs to produce more robust proposals for EAI adoption. The researcher discusses on EAI adoption by using a qualitative, interpretive, multiple case study research strategy. Findings from three case organisations exhibit that such an approach contributes towards more robust decisions for EAI adoption and indicates that it is acceptable by the case organisations. Despite these results cannot be generalised, yet they can allow others to relate their views with the ones reported in this thesis. This thesis proposes, tests and presents a novel model for EAI adoption in LGAs and contributes to the body of knowledge by extending the literature