Communicative action-based business process and information systems modelling with DEMO

Abstract. Abstract. The field of communicative action-based modelling of business processes and information systems has attracted more and more attention in recent years. Inspired by the seminal work of Winograd and Flores, researchers have proposed several modelling approaches. In this article we discuss communicative action-based modelling approaches in general and the DEMO (dynamic essential modelling of organizations) approach in particular. Besides establishing the theoretical foundations of this modelling approach, we also apply DEMO to a case study, and we discuss how the resulting models can be used for information systems design and business process optimization.     

Ranking open source application integration frameworks based on maintainability metrics: A review of five-year evolution

Integration frameworks are specialized software tools built and adapted to facilitate the design and implementation of integration solutions. An integration solution allows for the reuse of applications from the software ecosystem of companies to support their business processes. There are several open-source integration frameworks available on the market designed to operate in a business context to manipulate structured data; however, increasingly, they are required to deal with unstructured and large volumes of data, thus requiring effort to adapt these frameworks to work with unstructured and large volume of data. Choosing the framework, which is the easiest to be adapted, is not a trivial task. In this article, we review the newest stable versions of four open-source integration frameworks by analyzing how they have evolved regarding their adaptive maintainability over five years. We rank them according to their maintainability degree and compare past and current versions of each framework. To encourage and enable researchers and developers to replicate our experiments, with the aim of verifying our findings, and to experiment with new versions of the integration frameworks analyzed, we detail the experimental protocol used while also having made all the required software involved available on the Web.     

A flexible,object-centric approach for business process modelling

Mainstream business process modelling techniques often promote a design paradigm wherein the activities that may be performed within a case, together with their usual execution order, form the backbone on top of which other aspects are anchored. This Fordist paradigm, while effective in standardised and production-oriented domains, breaks when confronted with processes in which case-by-case variations and exceptions are the norm. We contend that the effective design of flexible processes calls for a substantially different modelling paradigm. Motivated by requirements from the human services domain, we explore the hypothesis that a framework consisting of a small set of coordination concepts, combined with established object-oriented modelling principles, provides a suitable foundation for designing highly flexible processes. Several human service delivery processes have been designed using this framework, and the resulting models have been used to realise a system to support these processes in a pilot environment.     

一种基于主体可信度的联合辩论框架

辩论框架是计算机利用辩论机制来解决实际问题的基础,如商务谈判、法律纠纷和劳动争议等。传统的辩论框架对辩论机制和论证方法作了具体的形式化描述,但忽略了辩论主体及其对辩论结果影响的描述,而且在辩论过程中一个论点通常需要多个论据的联合论证。针对以上问题,在传统辩论框架的基础上,提出了一种基于主体可信度的联合辩论框架(STUAF)。首先引入了辩论主体的概念,并对观点和论据之间的联合论证进行形式化定义;其次给出了完整的框架结构和语义描述,证明了该辩论框架满足Dunk提出的标准辩论框架的基本定理;然后结合辩论树给出了语义计算的算法;最后给出一个具体的应用实例,实例分析表明S I'UAF及其语义算法是有效的。     

Normative requirements for regulatory compliance: An abstract formal framework

By definition, regulatory rules (in legal context called norms) intend to achieve specific behaviour from business processes, and might be relevant to the whole or part of a business process. They can impose conditions on different aspects of process models, e.g., control-flow, data and resources etc. Based on the rules sets, norms can be classified into various classes and sub-classes according to their effects. This paper presents an abstract framework consisting of a list of norms and a generic compliance checking approach on the idea of (possible) execution of processes. The proposed framework is independent of any existing formalism, and provides a conceptually rich and exhaustive ontology and semantics of norms needed for business process compliance checking. Apart from the other uses, the proposed framework can be used to compare different compliance management frameworks (CMFs).     

The constituents of business interaction––generic layered patterns

In order to perform business modelling as apart of information systems development, there is a need for frameworks and methods. The paper proposes a framework for business interaction based on a language/action perspective. The framework is an architecture of five generic layers. The first layer concept is ‘business act’, which functions as the basic unit of analysis. The following four layer concepts are ‘action pair’, ‘exchange’, ‘business transaction’, and ‘transaction group’. The framework is inspired by a similar framework constructed by Weigand et al. The paper makes a critical examination of this framework as a basis for the proposed framework.     

Struts框架的扩展与改进

Struts框架是目前流行的Web应用开发框架之一。为了更好地使用和开发框架，在对Struts框架源码进行深入分析的基础上，总结了Struts框架中的主要扩展点，包括插件的使用以及配置类和控制器的扩展点；结合实际使用经验，提出通过制定基Action方法模板以便于开发。此外，提出视图和模型机制的扩展和改进方案，包括Action Form子类代码自动生成、Struts标签库的扩展以及使用业务委托和服务定位器设计模式访问模型。     

Struts框架的扩展与改进

Struts框架是目前流行的Web应用开发框架之一。为了更好地使用和开发框架,在对Struts框架源码进行深入分析的基础上,总结了Struts框架中的主要扩展点,包括插件的使用以及配置类和控制器的扩展点;结合实际使用经验,提出通过制定基Action方法模板以便于开发。此外,提出视图和模型机制的扩展和改进方案,包括ActionForm子类代码自动生成、Struts标签库的扩展以及使用业务委托和服务定位器设计模式访问模型。     

Frameworks: How to Build One?

Frameworks are useful guides to the thought processes of information security professionals for building their solutions. These frameworks are not solutions, only guides. They ensure that nothing is left out and that the work is done thoroughly and well. The quality of frameworks unfortunately is not consistent. Following a framework that is not fitting to the business requirements can create false assurance. A methodology is discussed in this paper about building a fitting framework. Asking pertinent questions forms the basis for such framework. The questions and the process of asking those questions determine the quality of the solution. A set of questions are described as examples, and explained how they define the areas that are necessary to enable a sound solution development. Some common errors and misconceptions are highlighted together with pointers to how they can be avoided or overcome. The methodology for developing those areas identified by the questions completes the paper.     

Bridging value modelling to ArchiMate via transaction modelling

The ArchiMate modelling language provides a coherent and a holistic view of an enterprise in terms of its products, services, business processes, actors, business units, software applications and more. Yet, ArchiMate currently lacks (1) expressivity in modelling an enterprise from a value exchange perspective, and (2) rigour and guidelines in modelling business processes that realize the transactions relevant from a value perspective. To address these issues, we show how to connect e \(^{3}\) value, a technique for value modelling, to ArchiMate via transaction patterns from the DEMO methodology. Using ontology alignment techniques, we show a transformation between the meta models underlying e \(^{3}\) value, DEMO and ArchiMate. Furthermore, we present a step-wise approach that shows how this model transformation is achieved and, in doing so, we also show the of such a transformation. We exemplify the transformation of DEMO and e \(^{3}\) value into ArchiMate by means of a case study in the insurance industry. As a proof of concept, we present a software tool supporting our transformation approach. Finally, we discuss the functionalities and limitations of our approach; thereby, we analyze its and practical applicability.     

Workflow analysis with communication norms

The language/action perspective (LAP) as orginally introduced by Winograd and Flores has inspired several tools and information system design methodologies. The goal of this article is to make the communication norms underlying various LAP workflow loop models (DEMO, ActionWorkflow) explicit and to contrast them with the auditing norms of internal control. It appears that the communicative action paradigm embedded in DEMO and the customer satisfaction orientation of ActionWorkflow lead to norms which resemble the ones required by internal control, but there are some important differences. For that reason, we propose an extended workflow loop model that distinguishes between customer relations and agency relations. Whereas current LAP approaches do not take agency relations explicitly into account, the extended workflow loop model allows us to analyze the effects of delegation on communicative processes. A framework is offered for the normative analysis of workflows based on a number of formalized communication norms.     

Programmable context awareness framework

Context-awareness enables applications to provide end-users with a richer experience by enhancing their interactions with contextual information. Several frameworks have already been proposed to simplify the development of context-aware applications. These frameworks are focused on provisioning context data and on providing common semantics, definitions and representations of these context data. They assume that applications share the same semantic, which limits the range of use cases where a framework can be used, as that assumption induces a strong coupling between context management and application logic. This article proposes a framework that decouples context management from application business logic. The aim is to reduce the overhead on applications that run on resource-limited devices while still providing mechanisms to support context-awareness and behavior adaptation. The article presents an innovative approach that involves third-parties in context processing definition by structuring it using atomic functions. These functions can be designed by third-party developers using an XML-based programming language. Its implementation and evaluation demonstrates the benefits, in terms of flexibility, of using proven design patterns from software engineering for developing context-aware application.     

地税税收业务管理信息系统设计

地税税收业务管理信息系统架构包含了业务架构、应用逻辑架构、应用技术架构3大架构。业务架构主要描述业务模块的分割;应用逻辑架构主要描述了各个子系统的功能和用户的界面;应用技术架构主要描述了一个平台／两个引擎／三层结构。E-BOS平台（一个平台）的引入使得用户能快速调整业务流程、快速改变业务规则、监控业务处理活动。两个引擎（业务过程引擎与业务规则引擎）为业务过程与业务规则的可配奠定了技术。三层结构则是常见的B／S／S结构。     

Frameworks for designing and implementing dependable systems using Coordinated Atomic Actions: A comparative study

This paper¹ presents ways of implementing dependable distributed applications designed using the Coordinated Atomic Action (CAA) paradigm. CAAs provide a coherent set of concepts adapted to fault tolerant distributed system design that includes structured transactions, distribution, cooperation, competition, and forward and backward error recovery mechanisms triggered by exceptions. DRIP (Dependable Remote Interacting Processes) is an efficient Java implementation framework which provides support for implementing Dependable Multiparty Interactions (DMI). As DMIs have a softer exception handling semantics compared with the CAA semantics, a CAA design can be implemented using the DRIP framework. A new framework called CAA-DRIP allows programmers to exclusively implement the semantics of CAAs using the same terminology and concepts at the design and implementation levels. The new framework not only simplifies the implementation phase, but also reduces the final system size as it requires less number of instances for creating a CAA at runtime. The paper analyses both implementation frameworks in great detail, drawing a systematic comparison of the two. The CAAs behaviour is described in terms of Statecharts to better understand the differences between the two frameworks. Based on the results of the comparison, we use one of the frameworks to implement a case study belonging to the e-health domain.     

An empirical examination of application frameworks success based on technology acceptance model

Framework-based development is currently regarded as one of the most promising software development approaches when it comes to improvements in lead time, productivity and quality. However, many frameworks and projects based on frameworks still report failures, which indicate that there are problems related to both frameworks technology and frameworks usage. The objective of our research was to examine the major drivers that have an impact on a framework’s acceptance and a framework’s success. We used the technology acceptance model (TAM) and Seddon’s information systems success model as our underlying theory. Data collected from an online survey of 389 active framework users was used to test hypothesized models. Data analysis was performed via structural equation modeling. Our findings support the post-adoption version of TAM and the relationship between continuous use and the successful use of systems, where more use also means more net benefits. We found that the successful use of frameworks is mainly dependent on two factors: continuous framework usage intention and the perceived usefulness of the framework. Several practical and theoretical implications can be foreseen including advances in framework development guidelines and insight into the relationship between the acceptance and success of frameworks.     

The user action framework: a reliable foundation for usability engineering support tools

Although various methods exist for performing usability evaluation, they lack a systematic framework for guiding and structuring the assessment and reporting activities. Consequently, analysis and reporting of usability data are ad hoc and do not live up to their potential in cost effectiveness, and usability engineering support tools are not well integrated. We developed the User Action Framework, a structured knowledge base of usability concepts and issues, as a framework on which to build a broad suite of usability engineering support tools. The User Action Framework helps to guide the development of each tool and to integrate the set of tools in the practitioner's working environment. An important characteristic of the User Action Framework is its own reliability in term of consistent use by practitioners. Consistent understanding and reporting of the underlying causes of usability problems are requirements for cost-effective analysis and redesign. Thus, high reliability in terms of agreement by users on what the User Action Framework means and how it is used is essential for its role as a common foundation for the tools. Here we describe how we achieved high reliability in the User Action Framework, and we support the claim with strongly positive results of a summative reliability study conducted to measure agreement among 10 usability experts in classifying 15 different usability problems. Reliability data from the User Action Framework are also compared to data collected from nine of the same usability experts using a classic heuristic evaluation technique.     

基于微服务的石油大数据挖掘平台

为推进大数据技术在油田领域的快速融合和应用，提出一种覆盖大数据处理整个生命周期的多功能大数据处理平台。平台融合各类大数据分析框架和机器学习框架，设计面向油田领域，能够支持实时和离线处理的数据挖掘功能。基于Docker容器封装各类计算框架和算法服务，并基于Kubernetes框架完成容器的编排与调度。在系统的架构方式上采用基于微服务的架构方式，将不同技术栈的应用独立分解为单个服务模块，以此来保证业务系统服务的可靠性、可扩展性。这使得企业数据分析人员能够专注于业务数据分析问题，而不必花费大量时间学习框架部署和其他大型数据挖掘技术细节。     

Betriebliches Identitätsmanagement

Enterprise Identity Management Systems (EIdMS) are an IT-based infrastructure that needs to be integrated in various business processes and related infrastructures. Assessment and preparation of decisions for the introduction need to take the costs, benefits, and the organizational settings into consideration. A variety of methods for the evaluation and decision support of new IT (e. g. EIdMS) are discussed in the literature – however, these are typically based on single dimensions (e. g. financial or technology aspects). This paper proposes a multidimensional decision support framework, based on the Balanced Scorecard concept. The presented approach introduces four perspectives and a related set of initial decision parameters to support decision making. The perspectives are (a) financial/monetary, (b) business processes, (c) supporting processes and (ICT) infrastructure and (d) information security, risks and compliance. Perspectives and adaptable sets of decision parameters also may serve as foundation for software-based decision support instruments.     

Challenges in business systems integration

Four main frameworks for intercompany relationships (SCOR, CPFR, ISA95 and OAG) are discussed and compared. The link between the frameworks and different supply chain integration applications such as ERP, CRM and VMI are pictured. Finally the state-of-the-art, future state and challenges of the supply chain integration applications are discussed. It is concluded that the main challenge with respect to frameworks supporting business systems integration is to extend them with implementation functionality to better support business system application development. An example of this is customer requirement fulfillment processes such as product development and order fulfillment. Not only do they cross the borders of the company's departments (sales, logistics, purchasing, etc) but also various companies in the supply chain. In spite of this development, business integration across systems and borders are still not matured and to a large extend based on human interaction.