Discovering role-based virtual knowledge flows for organizational knowledge support

2013 | Decision Support Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Liu, Duen-Ren; Lin, Chih-Wei; Chen, Hui-Fang

Abstract: In knowledge-intensive work environments, workers need task-relevant knowledge a ... Expand

Abstract: In knowledge-intensive work environments, workers need task-relevant knowledge and documents to support the execution of tasks. A knowledge flow (KF) represents an individual's or group's knowledge-needs and referencing behavior of codified knowledge during the performance of organizational tasks. Through knowledge flows, organizations can provide workers with task-relevant knowledge to satisfy their knowledge-needs. In teamwork environments, knowledge workers with different roles and task functions usually have diverse knowledge-needs, but conventional KF models cannot satisfy such needs. In a previous work, we proposed a novel concept and theoretical model called Knowledge Flow View (KFV). Based on workers' diverse knowledge-needs, the KFV model abstracts knowledge nodes of partial KFs and generates virtual knowledge nodes through a knowledge concept generalization procedure. However, the KFV model did not consider the diverse knowledge-needs of workers who play different roles in a team. Therefore, in this work, we propose a role-based KFV model that discovers role-based virtual knowledge flows to satisfy the knowledge-needs of different roles. First, we analyze the level of knowledge required by workers to fulfill various roles. Then, we develop role-based knowledge flow abstraction methods that generate appropriate virtual knowledge nodes to provide sufficient knowledge for each role. The proposed role-based KFV model enhances the efficiency of KF usage, as well as the effectiveness of knowledge sharing and knowledge support in organizations. Collapse

Topics: knowledge representation systems design mobile phone organizational memory marketing management

Methods: computational algorithm domain ontology ontological modelling simulation design artifact

Models of Collaboration as the Foundation for Collaboration Technologies

2010 | Journal of Management Information Systems | Citations: 5

Authors: Poltrock, Steven; Handel, Mark

Abstract: The article discusses two basic models of collaborative teamwork, comparing thei ... Expand

Abstract: The article discusses two basic models of collaborative teamwork, comparing their relative merits in terms of technology-based collaboration and the social aspects of information systems. The models are termed ostensive and performative. The ostensive approach defines how things should be done, and is said to be useful for analysis, documentation, simulation and automation. The performative approach focuses on observing actual practices, and is recommended for discovering innovative methods for using existing systems as well as monitoring deviations from normative practice. Collapse

Topics: change management computer supported cooperative work IT supported collaboration social network requirements analysis

Methods: business process modeling qualitative interview conceptual modelling grounded theory activity diagram

Theories: coordination theory language action perspective

Ubiquitous enterprise service adaptations based on contextual user behavior

2007 | Information Systems Frontiers | Citations: 3

Authors: Hong, Dan; Chiu, Dickson K. W.; Shen, Vincent Y.; Cheung, S. C.; Kafeza, Eleanna

Abstract: Recent advances in mobile technologies and infrastructures have created the dema ... Expand

Abstract: Recent advances in mobile technologies and infrastructures have created the demand for ubiquitous access to enterprise services from mobile handheld devices. Further, with the invention of new interaction devices, the context in which the services are being used becomes an integral part of the activity carried out with the system. Traditional human–computer interface (HCI) theories are now inadequate for developing these context-aware applications, as we believe that the notion of context should be extended to different categories: computing contexts, user contexts, and physical contexts for ubiquitous computing. This demands a new paradigm for system requirements elicitation and design in order to make good use of such extended context information captured from mobile user behavior. Instead of redesigning or adapting existing enterprise services in an ad hoc manner, we introduce a methodology for the elicitation of context-aware adaptation requirements and the matching of context-awareness features to the target context by capability matching. For the implementation of such adaptations, we propose the use of three tiers of views: user interface views, data views, and process views. This approach centers on a novel notion of process views to ubiquitous service adaptation, where mobile users may execute a more concise version or modified procedure of the original process according to their behavior under different contexts. The process view also serves as the key mechanism for integrating user interface views and data views. Based on this model, we analyze the design and implementation issues of some common ubiquitous access situations and show how to adapt them systematically into a context-aware application by considering the requirements of a ubiquitous enterprise information system. Collapse

Topics: user interface usability requirements elicitation enterprise information system database system

Methods: conceptual modelling case study design science unified modeling language activity diagram

How Ontologies Can Help in an eMarketplace

2005 | European Conference On Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Chiu, Dickson K W; Poon, Joe Kit Man; Lam, Wai Chun; Tse, Chi Yung; Sui, William; Poon, Wing Size

Abstract: Recently, ontologies have been developed in various business domains with the re ... Expand

Abstract: Recently, ontologies have been developed in various business domains with the recent maturing of the Semantic Web technologies. However, ontology-related researches have largely focused on the facilitation of successful matchmaking but not much on traders’ requirement elicitation and potential negotiations in e-marketplaces. Because ontology provides the key knowledge about the inter-relationships among the issues and alternatives of the traders’ requirements, we show how to elicit trade requirements, alternatives, and tradeoff from an agreed ontology. This facilitates the whole business process of the e-marketplace, from matchmaking, recommendation, to negotiation. We further propose a novel methodology for the elicitation of dependencies among traders’ requirements for the formulation of an effective decision plan. As a result, traders can have a better cognition of their requirements and the overall operations of the e-marketplace can be streamlined. Collapse

Topics: knowledge representation electronic market requirements elicitation business process management Java

Methods: ontological modelling design science computational algorithm unified modeling language conceptual modelling

A Logic Based Modeling Approach to Managing Workflow Policy Changes

2005 | Americas Conference on Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Wang, Harry J; Zhao, J Leon

Abstract: Workflow management systems are becoming increasingly important in the automatio ... Expand

Abstract: Workflow management systems are becoming increasingly important in the automation of business processes. In order to ensure proper workflow execution, workflow policies must be specified with respect to users, roles, and tasks. In today’s dynamic business environment, successful organizations must be able to respond to new customer demands and market opportunities with flexibility and speed. However, without systematic management of workflow policies, changes in organizational structure and process models can lead to inconsistent workflow specifications. Thus far, research in the change management of workflow policies has been scant. In this paper, we propose a logic-based approach to address this problem. Our contribution is three-fold: 1) a modeling language based on predicate logic is proposed, which is succinct and expressive enough to represent process model, organization model, and workflow polices; 2) workflow policy consistency in a dynamic changing environment is formally defined and analyzed based on the proposed language. 3) two algorithms are developed to check and enforce the policy consistency. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work focuses on the formal analysis of workflow policy change management. Collapse

Topics: Prolog enterprise architecture change management predicate logic business process management system

Methods: computational algorithm design science business process modeling modeling language unified modeling language

Linking Business Processes and Information Systems Provision in a Dynamic Environment

2002 | Information Systems Frontiers | Citations: 6

Authors: Beeson, I.; Green, S.; Sa, J.; Sully, A.

Abstract: This paper discusses decision and communication processes which link strategic a ... Expand

Abstract: This paper discusses decision and communication processes which link strategic activity in a business with information systems development activity. We develop a model which illustrates these processes as observed in one company (AXA Sun Life, Bristol HQ), but we suggest there may be generalizable features. We use Role Activity Diagrams as our diagramming method.In most organizations it is impractical to achieve a fully articulated business model and IS architecture. Organizations do try to make development (or acquisition) of information systems which will serve business needs as orderly as they can, in circumstances which are inherently complex and unstable. We suggest that the degree of regularity which is achieved in IS development within the business context comes not so much from following one overarching plan, as from a continuous process of adjustment, in which local short-term plans are weighed against current understanding of the business's key interests. What is needed to aid this process is a general framework of communication and decision making within which plans can be reviewed and modified in the light of changing circumstances. This paper presents an attempt to reveal and represent such a framework. Collapse

Topics: systems development strategic management information technology operation operational information system user requirement

Methods: conceptual modelling business process modeling modeling language qualitative interview activity diagram

Specifying and Analyzing Static and Dynamic Patterns of Administrative Processes

2002 | European Conference On Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Motschnig-Pitrik, Renate; Randa, Philipp; Vinek, Guenther

Abstract: In the last decade, patterns have proved their effectiveness for the reuse of so ... Expand

Abstract: In the last decade, patterns have proved their effectiveness for the reuse of software development artifacts from early as well as late phases of the process. This paper proposes analysis patterns based on accurate and thorough observations of administrative processes such as organizing meetings, making group decisions, hiring of personnel, etc. The patterns proposed in this work are characterized by coming equipped with a basic workflow, captured in the form of an UML activity diagram, aside of providing an object structure modeled as UML static structure diagram. Besides serving as analysis models for subsequent software development, the primary intent behind administrative patterns is to visualize and to standardize frequently reoccurring processes and thus to support quality assurance and - control. Furthermore, administrative patterns lay the basis for various ways of evaluating the underlying processes in order to improve them. Collapse

Topics: business process management business process re-engineering system development method enterprise architecture evaluation criteria

Methods: design science unified modeling language class diagram design pattern simulation