An Evaluation of Inter-Organizational Workflow Modelling Formalisms

This paper evaluates the dynamic aspects of the UML in the context of inter-organizational workflows. Two evaluation methodologies are used. The first one is ontological and is based on the BWW (Bunge-Wand-Weber) models. The second validation is based on prototyping and consists in the development of a workflow management system in the aerospace industry. Both convergent and divergent results are found from the two validations. Possible enhancements to the UML formalism are suggested from the convergent results. On the other hand, the divergent results suggest the need for a contextual specification in the BWW models. Ce travail consiste en une évaluation des aspects dynamiques du language UML dans un contexte de workflow inter-organisationnel. Le choix du language par rapport à d'autres est motivé par sa richesse grammaticale lui offrant une très bonne adaptation à ce contexte. L'évaluation se fait par une validation ontologique basée sur les modèles BWW (Bunge-Wand-Weber) et par la réalisation d'un prototype de système de gestion de workflows inter-organisationnels. À partir des résultats convergents obtenus des deux différentes analyses, des améliorations au formalisme UML sont suggérées. D'un autre coté, les analyses divergentes suggèrent une possibilité de spécifier les modèles BWW à des contextes plus particuliers tels que ceux des workflows et permettent également de suggérer d'autres améliorations possibles au langage.Ontology, Conceptual study, Prototype Validation, UML, IS development methods and tools., Ontologie, étude conceptuelle, validation du prototype, UML, méthodes et outils de développement IS

Information Outlook, January 2007

Volume 11, Issue 1https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/sla_io_2007/1000/thumbnail.jp

Towards a Paradigm for Inter-Organization E-Collaboration: Collaborative Business

As the adoption of information technologies, especially the Internet technologies, there is an increasing interest on inter-organization collaboration in e-business. The ‘collaboration’s in the existing literatures often mean different. These diverse views make it difficult to understand what the collaboration is and to know what have been achieved and what still needs to be done. The paradigm of e-Collaboration has yet to be established. This paper provides a framework for Inter-organization e-Collaboration. The framework identifies the heart of e-Collaboration — joint intellectual efforts, which has seldom been explored by existing studies. Moreover, existing relevant literatures are organized and are analysed using the framework and future research directions are indicated based on the analysis

A Meta-Study on E-Collaboration

Collaborative activities across organizations are common when conducting business online. There have been numerous research results on different aspects of inter-organization collaborations through electronic means or in an electronic environment. However, the term ‘collaboration’ in Information Systems research literature often has different meanings. Also, a wide spectrum of technologies has been labeled as collaborative technology. In order to make the knowledge of the new research field cohesive and accumulative, the paradigm of electronic collaboration (e-Collaboration) has yet to be established. Thus this paper aims to provide a framework for e-Collaboration from the perspective different levels of involvements of inter-organization interactions. The framework differentiates the types of the ‘collaboration’ in a cohesive manner, and underlines the core characteristics of e-Collaboration - joint intellectual efforts. Moreover, a content analysis on the existing related literatures is conducted, using the framework proposed. Future research directions in the field are also discussed

Validating adequacy and suitability of business-IT alignment criteria in an inter-enterprise maturity model

Aligning requirements of a business with its information technology is currently a major issue in enterprise computing. Existing literature indicates important criteria to judge the level of alignment between business and IT within a single enterprise. However, identifying such criteria in an inter-enterprise setting – or re-thinking the existing ones – is hardly addressed at all. Business-IT alignment in such settings poses new challenges, as in inter-enterprise collaborations, alignment is driven by economic processes instead of centralized decision-making processes. In our research, we develop a maturity model for business-IT alignment in inter-enterprise settings that takes this difference into account. In this paper, we report on a multi-method approach we devised to confront the validation of the business-IT alignment criteria that we included in the maturity model. As independent feedback is critical for our validation, we used a focus group session and a case study as instruments to take the first step in validating the business-IT alignment criteria. We present how we applied our approach, what we learnt, and what the implications were for our model

Business Process Management Education in Academia: Status, challenges, and Recommendations

In response to the growing proliferation of Business Process Management (BPM) in industry and the demand this creates for BPM expertise, universities across the globe are at various stages of incorporating knowledge and skills in their teaching offerings. However, there are still only a handful of institutions that offer specialized education in BPM in a systematic and in-depth manner. This article is based on a global educators’ panel discussion held at the 2009 European Conference on Information Systems in Verona, Italy. The article presents the BPM programs of five universities from Australia, Europe, Africa, and North America, describing the BPM content covered, program and course structures, and challenges and lessons learned. The article also provides a comparative content analysis of BPM education programs illustrating a heterogeneous view of BPM. The examples presented demonstrate how different courses and programs can be developed to meet the educational goals of a university department, program, or school. This article contributes insights on how best to continuously sustain and reshape BPM education to ensure it remains dynamic, responsive, and sustainable in light of the evolving and ever-changing marketplace demands for BPM expertise