Collaborative Virtual Enterprise Environment and Decision Mining

This paper will present some meaningful insights into the analysis and modeling phases of an Enterprise Virtual Environment (EVE) prototype. The main goal of EVE is to provide an environment for collaborative decisions using a DSS-like approach. In the second part, the proposed architecture of the system will be introduced. This system is developed primarily to simulate decision situations in the academic training of students. The second goal of the system is to provide us with user activity logs that will be the starting point of decision pattern mining process. In the third part of the paper, we will provide evidence regarding the possibility of: mining decision models from user activity logs; comparing different decision making strategies of users; and building decision reference models.Enterprise Virtual Environment, Decision Simulation, DSS Analysis and Modeling, Decision Mining, Decision Analysis, Decision Models

Decision models for cash-flow DSS (part 1)

The goal of this paper is to present some of the work conducted in order to create a cash-flow DSS that aims to improve the financial decisions of Romanian small and medium enterprise managers. In order to create the desired DSS two major stages were followed: the construction of models for various financial decisions and the implementation of those models within the knowledge base of the DSS. The present paper covers the first stage while the second stage will be presented in the next article. For a better understanding, the paper is divided into three parts: theoretical considerations, practical application of theory and conclusions. The theoretical part builds up on basic definitions and previous decision theory research, and, taking into consideration different modeling methodologies, establishes the necessary steps and tools that will be used in the second part. The second part establishes the decisional situations that will be modeled, briefly describes each of them and shows the models devised according to particularities of small and medium enterprises. The goal of this part is to create a model (variables, relations between them, etc) that is suited for implementation in a cash-flow DSS. In the final part some conclusions are stated and the future research direction is established.decision model, cash-flow DSS, financial decisions, MTIS

A Mining Algorithm for Extracting Decision Process Data Models

The paper introduces an algorithm that mines logs of user interaction with simulation software. It outputs a model that explicitly shows the data perspective of the decision process, namely the Decision Data Model (DDM). In the first part of the paper we focus on how the DDM is extracted by our mining algorithm. We introduce it as pseudo-code and, then, provide explanations and examples of how it actually works. In the second part of the paper, we use a series of small case studies to prove the robustness of the mining algorithm and how it deals with the most common patterns we found in real logs.Decision Process Data Model, Decision Process Mining, Decision Mining Algorithm

About Hierarchical XML Structures, Replacement of Relational Data Structures in Construction and Implementation of ERP Systems

The projects essential objective is to develop a new ERP system, of homogeneous nature, based on XML structures, as a possible replacement for classic ERP systems. The criteria that guide the objective definition are modularity, portability and Web connectivity. This objective is connected to a series of secondary objectives, considering that the technological approach will be filtered through the economic, social and legislative environment for a validation-by-context study. Statistics and cybernetics are to be used for simulation purposes. The homogeneous approach is meant to provide strong modularity and portability, in relation with the n-tier principles, but the main advantage of the model is its opening to the semantic Web, based on a Small enterprise ontology defined with XML-driven languages. Shockwave solutions will be used for implementing client-oriented hypermedia elements and an XML Gate will be de-fined between black box modules, for a clear separation with obvious advantages. Security and the XMLTP project will be an important issue for XML transfers due to the conflict between the open architecture of the Web, the readability of XML data and the privacy elements which have to be preserved within a business environment. The projects finality is oriented on small business but the semantic Web perspective and the surprising new conflict between hierarchical/network data structures and relational ones will certainly widen its scope. The proposed model is meant to fulfill the IT compatibility requirements of the European environment, defined as a knowledge society. The paper is a brief of the contributions of the team re-search at the project type A applied to CNCSIS "Research on the Role of XML in Building Extensible and Homogeneous ERP Systems".XML structures, database management system

Implementing a Decision-Aware System for Loan Contracting Decision Process

The paper introduces our work related to the design and implementation of a decision-aware system focused on the loan contracting decision process. A decision-aware system is a software that enables the user to make a decision in a simulated environment and logs all the actions of the decision maker while interacting with the software. By using a mining algorithm on the logs, it creates a model of the decision process and presents it to the user. The main design issue introduced in the paper is the possibility to log the mental actions of the user. The main implementation issues are: user activity logging programming and technologies used. The first section of the paper introduces the state-of-the-art research in process mining and the framework of our research; the second section argues the design of the system; the third section introduces the actual implementation and the fourth section shows a running example.Decision-Aware Systems, Decision Activity Logs, Decision Mining, Codeigniter, JSON

A Mining Algorithm for Extracting Decision Process Data Models

The paper introduces an algorithm that mines logs of user interaction with simulation software. It outputs a model that explicitly shows the data perspective of the decision process, namely the Decision Data Model (DDM). In the first part of the paper we focus on how the DDM is extracted by our mining algorithm. We introduce it as pseudo-code and, then, provide explanations and examples of how it actually works. In the second part of the paper, we use a series of small case studies to prove the robustness of the mining algorithm and how it deals with the most common patterns we found in real logs

Data-Flow Modeling: A Survey of Issues and Approaches

This paper presents a survey of previous research on modeling the data flow perspective of business processes. When it comes to modeling and analyzing business process models the current research focuses on control flow modeling (i.e. the activities of the process) and very little attention is paid to the data-flow perspective. But data is essential in a process. In order to execute a workflow, the tasks need data. Without data or without data available on time, the control flow cannot be executed. For some time, various researchers tried to investigate the data flow perspective of process models or to combine the control and data flow in one model. This paper surveys those approaches. We conclude that there is no model showing a clear data flow perspective focusing on how data changes during a process execution. The literature offers some similar approaches ranging from data modeling using elements from relational database domain, going through process model verification and ending with elements related to Web Services

Collaborative Virtual Enterprise Environment and Decision Mining

This paper will present some meaningful insights into the analysis and modeling phases of an Enterprise Virtual Environment (EVE) prototype. The main goal of EVE is to provide an environment for collaborative decisions using a DSS-like approach. In the second part, the proposed architecture of the system will be introduced. This system is developed primarily to simulate decision situations in the academic training of students. The second goal of the system is to provide us with user activity logs that will be the starting point of decision pattern mining process. In the third part of the paper, we will provide evidence regarding the possibility of: mining decision models from user activity logs; comparing different decision making strategies of users; and building decision reference models

Decision models for cash-flow DSS (part 1)

The goal of this paper is to present some of the work conducted in order to create a cash-flow DSS that aims to improve the financial decisions of Romanian small and medium enterprise managers. In order to create the desired DSS two major stages were followed: the construction of models for various financial decisions and the implementation of those models within the knowledge base of the DSS. The present paper covers the first stage while the second stage will be presented in the next article. For a better understanding, the paper is divided into three parts: theoretical considerations, practical application of theory and conclusions. The theoretical part builds up on basic definitions and previous decision theory research, and, taking into consideration different modeling methodologies, establishes the necessary steps and tools that will be used in the second part. The second part establishes the decisional situations that will be modeled, briefly describes each of them and shows the models devised according to particularities of small and medium enterprises. The goal of this part is to create a model (variables, relations between them, etc) that is suited for implementation in a cash-flow DSS. In the final part some conclusions are stated and the future research direction is established