On the use of enterprise models

This paper presents the results of a field study designed to determine how enterprise models are used. The paper begins with an introduction to enterp rise models then provides an overview of the survey method used. No known e mpirical studies have been conducted to determine how enterprise models act ually are used by industry. The research is designed to answer this questio n. A screening sample and complete web-based survey of 72 enterprise modele rs was conducted. The primary research question of this survey was on the u se of enterprise models, with particular focus on the three dimensions of l iving models: scope, enactment, and dynamicity. Half the respondents claim that their enterprise models were of their entire division, multiple divisi ons, and even multiple enterprises. It is encouraging to see that enterpris e models are used on such a wide scope. The enactment of the enterprise mod els was not as large as was expected. Of the respondents, 75% claimed that their models did not receive information from the enterprise more frequentl y than quarterly. The same was true for how often the models provided infor mation to the enterprise. Seventy-five percent did not update their models more than five times (although, 32% did update the model three to five time s). Finally, additional areas of research are proposed.