An Object Oriented Approach for Business Process Reengineering

Successful Business Process Reengineering (BPR) projects depend on the appropriate business process modeling techniques. On the other side, Information technology (IT) is considered as a key enabler of BPR. Since the object-oriented technique became the most common approach for implementing information systems, the object oriented approach to business process modeling seems to be the best way for more successful BPR projects. This work aims to develop a modeling method for BPR. This method should fill the gap between modeling business process and creating a supportive information system for the redesigned processes in BPR. The present work introduces BPR modeling method that links object orientation with business process modeling. The proposed method integrates an object-oriented modeling method (An Extended object-oriented modeling method) with object-oriented modeling language (Unified Modeling language UML). Design science methodology was used to develop the proposed modeling method. The proposed method was implemented into two types of business process case studies. The implementation showed a promising modeling technique for representing the business process and linking business process modeling with the development of the supportive information system

The evaluation framework for business process management methodologies

In an intense competition in the global market, organisations seek to take advantage of all their internal and external potentials, advantages, and resources. It has been found that, in addition to competitive products and services, a good business also requires an effective management of business processes, which is the discipline of the business process management (BPM). The introduction of the BPM in the organisation requires a thoughtful selection of an appropriate methodological approach, since the latter will formalize activities, products, applications and other efforts of the organisation in this field. Despite many technology-driven solutions of software companies, recommendations of consulting companies, techniques, good practices and tools, the decision on what methodology to choose is anything but simple. The aim of this article is to simplify the adoption of such decisions by building a framework for the evaluation of BPM methodologies according to a qualitative multi-attribute decision-making method. The framework defines a hierarchical decision-making model, formalizes the decision-making process and thus contributes significantly to an independent, credible final decision that is the most appropriate for a specific organisation

SNACH a new framework to support business process improvement.

Business processes are central to any organisation. They coordinate activities, roles, resources, systems and constraints within and across organisational boundaries to achieve predefined business goals. The demand for dynamic business environments, customer satisfaction, global competition, system integration, operational efficiency, innovation and adaptation to market changes necessitates the need for continuous process improvement. In order to adequately respond to these demands, business processes are designed in two approaches: Business Process Re-engineering (BPR) and Business Process Improvement (BPI). This thesis follows the BPI approach which considers existing infrastructure in an organization to improve operational efficiency and achieve organisational goals. Many methodologies have been developed for conducting BPI projects, but they provide little support for the actual act of systematically improving a business process. We adopted case study as the research strategy to examine a collaborative business process, specifically the UK Higher Education Institutions (HEI) admission process. The design science research methodology was used to answer the research questions and satisfy the research objectives. The Map technique was employed to construct the new BPI artefact based on the Mandatory Elements of Method (MEM) from Method Engineering. The new BPI framework comprises of a number of elements to support analysts and practitioners in process improvement activities. We present a novel approach to BPI, the SNACH (Simulation Network Analysis Control flow complexity and Heuristics) framework that supports the actual act of process improvement using a combination of process analysis techniques with integrated quantitative measurable concepts to measure and visualize improvement in four dimensions: cost, cycle time, flexibility and complexity. A simulation technique was employed to analyse the process models in terms of time and cost; and Control Flow Complexity was used to calculate the logical complexity of the process model. A complex network analysis approach was used to provide information about the structural relationship and information exchange between process activities. Using a complex network analysis approach to reduce a process model to a network of nodes and links so that its structural properties are analysed to provide information about the structural complexity and flexibility of the network. To achieve this higher level of abstraction, an algorithm was defined and validated using four disparate process models. The complex network analysis technique is integrated into the SNACH framework and its significance lies in the study of the nature of the individual nodes and the pattern of connections in the network. These characteristics are assessed using network metrics to quantitatively analyse the structure of the network, thereby providing insight into the interaction and behavioural structure of the business process activities. To conclude the design science research process phases, the artefact was evaluated in terms of its effectiveness and efficiency to systematically improve a business process by conducting an experiment using another use case

UTP Travel Claims Approval System

This preliminary report is prepared to present the background study and initial ideas and planning of TAB3012 Final Year Project (Part II). The paper begins with background discussion on problem statement of the project; about the availability of travel and claim system for staffs in UTP. Following that, further explanation on the research project including features of product to be developed, tools required and the flow of the product is being presented. For this project, there would be three main activities to take place which is of research and prototyping and user feedback for final product for this project. Details on project works can be found in methodology section of this repor

The activity table as an agent-based modeling approach for optimizing patent exploitation processes

The focal idea of the paper is to model the Activity table in order to increase the efficiency of the intellectual property management. The modeling is done by looking into activities of individual agents (resources or entities). The article examines - in light of the review of related research literature - how the Activity table technique can be used when focusing on IP processes, especially in smaller companies. This technique may be a useful, comprehensive, holistic, but still relatively simple way for intellectual property protection processes’ improvement; allowing to find bottle-necks and ways to avoid them as well as to include a systematic element into processes usually riddled by informality and uncertainty. We highlight the steps and considerations needed to use the Activity table in the exploitation phase and especially on facilitating patent transfers. The article provides two concrete examples, showcasing the use of the Activity table

Exploring the impact of organizational climate factors on organizational creativity within a centralized IS

The present study aims to illustrate problems associated with enabling organizational creativity through a centralized information system (IS). A creativity model based on the componential creativity theory was adapted from organization theory and was used to develop propositions regarding organizational climate factors that should be avoided when using a centralized IS to foster organizational creativity. The present study offers a useful case study to help organizations understand actions to be avoided when seeking to enhance organizational creativity via the adoption of a centralized IS

Exploring the Long Shadow of IT Innovation Adoption Decisions on IT Value

Much research has been conducted to understand the value of IT innovations. However, research has examined such value primarily at the ex post stage, independently of the ex ante conditions that lead to adopting such innovations. This paper argues that there is a long shadow cast by past adoption conditions and decisions over the present assessment of value. We develop a conceptual framework that ties IT innovation value to the original motives underlying the adoption. The main premise is that the initial conditions that exist at the adoption stage (ex ante) can be used to understand the emphasis that should be placed on the different types of realized IT innovation value (ex post). Specifically, we develop a typology of four motivational forms of adoption that result from combining two dimensions of environmental uncertainty. We then develop propositions that relate each form of adoption to different components of IT innovation value. This paper extends the extant IT value literature by providing an account of IT innovation value that is consistent with the original motives of adoption. It also provides one way to integrate between the IT adoption and IT value streams, which hitherto have been treated separately

Flood response process knowledge of Lower Sava Valley communities in Slovenia

This paper focuses on the learning process of the flood-endangered communities in the Lower Sava Valley in Slovenia. In past five years, the communities faced several floods, which occurred because of the rain in central and northeast parts of Slovenia. Floods differed by their severity. On the first hand, the least harming caused only higher water levels of the major rivers, which cause isolation of couple of households. On the other hand, the most harming floods caused roadblocks, flooding the entire areas and communities. Hydrological and meteorological data, describing river dynamics and rainfall was gathered from the Slovenian Environment Agency database, while data describing the severity of the flood events from the Administration for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief database. To be able to simulate and assess floods` characteristics, we combined all gathered data into the singled database with the timeline of the flood events. We used data mining, process modeling and statistical methods to build up the simulation model, to compare simulation output with the real world data and to finally evaluate community learning process. Through the past floods, communities had the opportunity to learn about flood characteristics, how to properly react and protect the endangered property. We identified emerged tacit knowledge, which made possible some communities to reduce flood risk. We conducted preliminary semi-structured interviews with people who live in the flood-endangered areas to get the insight on the perception of the floods. Further, we designed fuzzy knowledge assessment system to evaluate which of the communities demonstrated the highest learning experience. We identified influence of the community knowledge on the response process and further try to optimize learning model, with the measures, extracted from the national strategic defense documents. The improved model revealed much higher self-reliance and flood resilience of the communities, when they are provided with more systematic learning about the floods and counter flood measures. Consequently, the whole flood response process workload significantly reduced according to the higher ability of the communities to resolve flood situation with no additional external support