Design of Data-Driven Decision Support Systems for Business Process Standardization

Increasingly dynamic environments require organizations to engage in business process standardization (BPS) in response to environmental change. However, BPS depends on numerous contingency factors from different layers of the organization, such as strategy, business models (BMs), business processes (BPs) and application systems that need to be well-understood (“comprehended”) and taken into account by decision-makers for selecting appropriate standard BP designs that fit the organization. Besides, common approaches to BPS are non-data-driven and frequently do not exploit increasingly avail-able data in organizations. Therefore, this thesis addresses the following research ques-tion: “How to design data-driven decision support systems to increase the comprehen-sion of contingency factors on business process standardization?”. Theoretically grounded in organizational contingency theory (OCT), this thesis address-es the research question by conducting three design science research (DSR) projects to design data-driven decision support systems (DSSs) for SAP R/3 and S/4 HANA ERP systems that increase comprehension of BPS contingency factors. The thesis conducts the DSR projects at an industry partner within the context of a BPS and SAP S/4 HANA transformation program at a global manufacturing corporation. DSR project 1 designs a data-driven “Business Model Mining” system that automatical-ly “mines” BMs from data in application systems and represents results in an interactive “Business Model Canvas” (BMC) BI dashboard to comprehend BM-related BPS con-tingency factors. The project derives generic design requirements and a blueprint con-ceptualization for BMM systems and suggests an open, standardized reference data model for BMM. The project implements the software artifact “Business Model Miner” in Microsoft Azure / PowerBI and demonstrates technical feasibility by using data from an educational SAP S/4 HANA system, an open reference dataset, and three real-life SAP R/3 ERP systems. A field evaluation with 21 managers at the industry partner finds differences between tool results and BMCs created by managers and thus the po-tential for a complementary role of BMM tools to enrich the comprehension of BMs. A further controlled laboratory experiment with 142 students finds significant beneficial impacts on subjective and objective comprehension in terms of effectiveness, efficiency, and relative efficiency. Second, DSR project 2 designs a data-driven process mining DSS “KeyPro” to semi-automatically discover and prioritize the set of BPs occurring in an organization from log data to concentrate BPS initiatives on important BPs given limited organizational resources. The project derives objective and quantifiable BP importance metrics from BM and BPM literature and implements KeyPro for SAP R/3 ERP and S/4 HANA sys-tems in Microsoft SQL Server / Azure and interactive PowerBI dashboards. A field evaluation with 52 managers compares BPs detected manually by decision-makers against BPs discovered by KeyPro and reveals significant differences and a complemen-tary role of the artifact to deliver additional insights into the set of BPs in the organiza-tion. Finally, a controlled laboratory experiment with 30 students identifies the dash-boards with the lowest comprehension for further development. Third, OCT requires organizations to select a standard BP design that matches contin-gencies. Thus, DSR project 3 designs a process mining DSS to select a standard BP from a repository of different alternative designs based on the similarity of BPS contin-gency factors between the as-is process and the to-be standard processes. DSR project 3 thus derives four different process model variants for representing BPS contingency factors that vary according to determinant factors of process model comprehension (PMC) identified in PMC literature. A controlled laboratory evaluation with 150 stu-dents identifies significant differences in PMC. Based on laboratory findings, the DSS is implemented in the BPM platform “Apromore” to select standard BP reference mod-els from the SAP Best Practices Explorer for SAP S/4 HANA and applied for the pur-chase-to-pay and order-to-cash process of a manufacturing company

Towards increased business model comprehension – principles for an advanced business model tool

Business modelling is recognized as an important concept to make company strategies more explicit and to compare alternatives combined with their translation to the operational layer. Typically, busi-ness modelling is performed by a group of experts building on established frameworks like the Busi-ness Model Canvas. In a subsequent step, different stakeholders in a company should build upon and work with the defined business models, thus, comprehension is critical. However, this is challenging from a practical point of view and existing research has not addressed the issue of business model comprehension. In order to close this research gap and to increase users’ business model comprehen-sion, we propose an advanced business model tool and an experimental design in this research-in-progress paper. Following the design science approach, we derive a first set of meta-requirements and design principles and present an advanced business model tool instantiation. The presented tool should contribute to an increased business model comprehension by providing semantic relationships and extended business performance indicators. Finally, we present a set of testable hypotheses and the research design for an experimental tool evaluation. With this research we intend to provide a solu-tion to the problem of business model comprehension and contribute to the design knowledge base of business model tools

DEVELOPMENT OF A MEASUREMENT SCALE FOR BUSINESS PROCESS STANDARDIZATION

Process-oriented companies face the dichotomy of process standardization versus process diversity. On the one hand, multinational companies try to realize returns of scale by standardization. On the other hand, markets require businesses to adapt to local needs and government regulations. As of to-day, there is no framework available to measure the degree of process standardization. This is both a problem for companies that want to assess their degree of standardization as well as for research that aims to investigate standardization and its connection with other concepts. In this paper, we address this research gap from the perspective of scale development. We utilize a well-acknowledged method for devising a measurement instrument to specifically and directly measure the degree of standardiza-tion in business processes. Various application scenarios and future research areas are pointed out

Developing a Business Model Transformation Tool

As promising chance, Industry 4.0 (I4.0) enables companies to defend their position in fast changing markets and to respond on individual customer demands. How-ever, companies have challenges to implement I 4.0 strategies in their current business. We present a research-in-progress design science project with the aim of designing a business model configuration tool enabling company transformation to I 4.0. Based on a comprehensive problem analysis and literature study, we demonstrate a first prototypical instantiation and demonstrate its feasibility in a case study. This tool enables practitioners as well as theorists to observe changes in business models rapidly and support transformations to I 4.0. With the tool, companies can understand their business models better and find a target business model, which is really fitting to the individual way of value creation of the company

Process Mining for Business Process Standardization in ERP Implementation Projects – An SAP S/4 HANA Case Study from Manufacturing

Organizations increasingly build operations on enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. However, ERP implementation projects require significant process transformation and standardization to successfully use ERP systems. This article presents a case study in a manufacturing corporation to demonstrate how process mining can be used for process decisionmaking in an SAP S/4 HANA implementation project. In particular, the corporation implements process mining for the analysis of the SAP purchase-to-pay (“Purchas-ing”) and the order-to-cash (“Sales”) processes to determine whether the future to-be process should be standardized according to ERP standards, or to be individualized in a corporate-specific template. Further, process mining can be used to select suitable standard process specifications from the SAP Best Practices Explorer, as well as to analyze the required process changes before the launch of the new ERP system and process implementations

Avaliação dos níveis de monóxido de carbono em funcionários de um hospital geral

Backgrounds and Objective: Exposure to carbon monoxide (CO) can be harmful to human health and the first effects of intoxication may go unnoticed. Our objective was to evaluate the functional capacity and respiratory muscle strength of staff of a general hospital opposite the inhalation of carbon monoxide. Methods: cross-sectional study with a convenience sample. It was used as evaluation tools: clinical research roadmap; the MicroCO for analysis of CO concentration, CO cutoff for non-smokers among 1- 6ppm, light smokers 7-10ppm, moderate smokers 11-20ppm and heavy smokers >20ppm; the manometer to determine the respiratory muscle strength (MIP and MEP); Six minute walk test (6MWT) to evaluate functional capacity. Statistical analysis was performed hair Pearson correlation test to verify the association of variables. Results:The study included 14 volunteer subjects (08 men), mean age 35.14±8,76years, working in maintenance (n=5); laundry (n=6); kitchen (n=1); engineering (n=2) of the hospital. For active smokers only 03 subjects were above the cutoff (CO>6ppm) then being considered active smokers. The MIP (99.50±27.37% predicted) and MEP (105.64±21,39% predicted) are within normal parameters. The functional capacity of smokers (6MWT=71% of predicted), with high CO (17ppm), underperformed the baseline when compared with nonsmokers (CO=0,9ppm; 6MWT=92, 6% predicted). Moderate and negative correlation was observed between 6MWT and CO (r=-0.577, p=0.031). Conclusion: adult staff of a general hospital with preserved respiratory muscle strength and higher levels of CO exhaled have worse functional performance in the 6MWT. KEYWORDS:Muscle Strength. Carbon Monoxide.Occupational Health.Public Health.Justificativa e Objetivos: A exposição ao monóxido de carbono (CO) pode ser prejudicial para a saúde humana e os primeiros efeitos da intoxicação podem passar despercebidos. Nosso objetivo foi avaliar acapacidade funcional e força muscular respiratória de funcionários de um hospital geral frente à inalação de monóxido de carbono. Métodos: estudo de delineamento transversal, com amostragem de conveniência. Utilizou-se como instrumentos de avaliação: roteiro de investigação clínica; MicroCO para análise da concentração CO, com ponto de corte de CO para não fumantes entre 1-6ppm, fumantes leves7-10ppm, fumantes moderados 11-20ppm e fumantes pesados valores ˃20ppm; Manovacuometria para determinar a força muscular respiratória (PImáx e PEmáx);Teste de Caminhada de Seis minutos (TC6m) para avaliar a capacidade funcional. A análise estatística foi realizada pelo teste de correlação de Pearson para verificar a associação das variáveis. Resultados: Participaram do estudo 14 sujeitos voluntários (8 homens), idade média de 35,14±8,76anos, atuantes na manutenção (n=5); lavanderia (n=6); cozinha (n=1); engenharia (n=2) do hospital. Para tabagismo ativo apenas 3 sujeitos ficaram acima do ponto de corte (CO>6ppm), sendo considerados fumantes ativos. A PImáx(99,50±27,37%predito) e PEmáx(105,64±21,39%predito) encontram-se dentro dos parâmetros de normalidade. A capacidade funcional dos indivíduos fumantes (TC6m=71%predito), com alto nível CO (17ppm), ficou aquém do valor basal quando comparados com os indivíduos não fumantes (CO=0,9ppm; TC6m=92,6%predito). Correlação moderada e inversa foi observada entre TC6m e CO (r=-0,577, p=0,031). Conclusão: Funcionários adultos de um hospital geral,com força muscular respiratória preservada e maiores níveis de CO exalados apresentam pior desempenho funcional no TC6m. DESCRITORES: Força muscular. Monóxido de Carbono. Saúde do Trabalhador. Saúde Pública

Exploring Design Principles for a Business Model Mining Tool

Organizations increasingly need the ability to respond to ever-changing environments. Result-ing transformations require organizations to possess a solid knowledge of the status-quo of ex-isting business models to transform them towards future target models. However, business model creation in established frameworks is a manual, time-consuming, highly subjective and error-prone process. Following a design science approach, this research in progress proposes the development of an artefact in form of a business model mining tool to overcome weaknesses of manual approaches to business model derivation by deriving business models from data stored within organizational information systems. The artefact employs a data-oriented approach to automatically retrieve business models from data sources such as enterprise information sys-tems. For designing and evaluation of the artefact, an industry cooperation with a manufactur-ing corporation was formed to gain access to real-world data. This research in progress further introduces a set of meta-requirements, design principles and a preliminary prototype

DESIGNING FOR BUSINESS MODEL COMPREHENSION – PRINCIPLES FOR AN EXTENDED BUSINESS MODEL TOOL

Business modelling is recognized as an important concept to make company strategies more ex-plicit and to compare alternatives combined with their translation to the operational layer. Typi-cally, business modelling is performed by a group of experts building on established frameworks like the Business Model Canvas. In a subsequent step, different stakeholders in a company should build upon and work with the defined business models, thus, comprehension is critical. However, this is challenging from a practical point of view and existing research has not ad-dressed the issue of business model comprehension. In order to close this research gap and to increase users’ business model comprehension, we propose an advanced business model tool and an experimental design in this research-in-progress paper. Following the design science approach, we derive a first set of meta-requirements and design principles and present an ad-vanced business model tool instantiation. The presented tool should contribute to an increased business model comprehension by providing semantic relationships and extended business per-formance indicators. Finally, we present a set of testable hypotheses and the research design for an experimental tool evaluation. With this research we intend to provide a solution to the prob-lem of business model comprehension and contribute to the design knowledge base of business model tools