Integrated process modeling: An ontological evaluation

Process modeling has gained prominence in the information systems modeling area due to its focus on business processes and its usefulness in such busi ness improvement methodologies as Total Quality Management, Business Proces s Reengineering, and Workflow Management. However, process modeling techniq ues are not without their criticisms [13]. This paper proposes and uses the Bunge-Wand-Weber (BWW) representation model to analyze the five views - pr ocess, data, function, organization and output - provided in the Architectu re of Integrated Information Systems (ARIS) popularized by Scheer [39, 40, 41]. The BWW representation model attempts to provide a theoretical base on which to evaluate and thus contribute to the improvement of information sy stems modeling techniques. The analysis conducted in this paper prompts som e propositions. It confirms that the process view alone is not sufficient t o model all the real-world constructs required. Some other symbols or views are needed to overcome these deficiencies. However, even when considering all five views in combination, problems may arise in representing all poten tially required business rules, specifying the scope and boundaries of the system under consideration, and employing a "top-down" approach to analysis and design. Further work from this study will involve the operationalizati on of these propositions and their empirical testing in the field. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.