Explanatory capability of enterprise models

Enterprise modelling technology prescribes systematic use and computer-aide d documentation of knowledge about enterprises. The basis of this technolog y is the enterprise model, assumed to be developed during the organisationa l analysis, re-engineering or requirements acquisition processes where it s erves as an additional source of knowledge elicitation as well. Enterprise modelling technology is also potentially applicable in the area of organisa tional learning. The enterprise model usually consists of several sub-model s that have user-oriented meta-knowledge structures for communication with human sources of information. The success of the methodology in different a reas depends on its representative and explanatory capabilities. Theoretica l examination of the explanatory capability of enterprise models from the p oints of view of Aristotle's explanatory principles shows that explanatory capability of the models usually is limited. The situation can be improved by richer representations of human-related issues in the enterprise modelli ng frameworks. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.