scholarly journals Is there a Need for Agent-based Modelling and Simulation in Business Process Management?

Organizacija ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 255-269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michal Halaška ◽  
Roman Šperka

AbstractBackground and Purpose: Agent-based modelling and simulation (ABS) is growing in many areas like, e.g., management, social and computer sciences. However, the similar trend does not seem to occur within the field of business process management (BPM), even though simulation approaches like discrete event simulation or system dynamics are well established and widely used. Thus, in our paper we investigate the advantages and disadvantages of agent-based modelling and simulation in the field of BPM in simulation experiments.Design/Methodology/Approach: In our research, we investigate if there is a necessity for ABS in the field of BPM with our own simulation experiments to compare traditional and ABS models. For this purpose, we use simulation framework MAREA, which is a simulation environment with integrated ERP system. Our model is a complex system of a trading company selling computer cables. For the verification of our model, we use automated process discovery techniques.Results: In our simulations, we investigated the impact of changes in resources’ behavior on the outcome of company’s order to cash process (O2C). Simulations experiments demonstrated that even small changes might have statistically significant effect on outcomes of the processes and decisions based on such outcomes. Simulation experiments also demonstrated that the impact of randomly distributed fluctuations of well-being have a diminishing tendency with the increasing number of sales representatives involved in the process.Conclusions: Our research revealed several advantages and disadvantages of using ABS in business process modelling. However, as we show, many of them were at least partially addressed in the recent years. Thus, we believe that ABS will get more attention in the field of BPM similarly to other fields like, e.g., social sciences. We suggested areas in BPM simulations, e.g., modelling of resources, be it human or technological resources, where there is a need for ABS.

2020 ◽  
pp. 36-39
Author(s):  
Andrea Dobrosavljević ◽  
Snežana Urošević

Business processes are present in all types of organizations, regardless of the size or industry within which the organization operates. Successful business process management (BPM) is an indicator of the level of process maturity of the organization. Within the supply chain, it is possible to observe the presence of business processes of a collaborative nature, as BPM relies on the principles of partnership, development, and exchange of information through links that exist within this chain between all actors [1]. Within this paper, BPM in the relations with suppliers and consumers within the supply chain of organizations operating in the fashion industry is considered. Lambert [2] lists eight macro processes that take place in the supply chain, between suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, retailers and end consumers, as follows: customer relationship management, supplier relationship management, demand management, order execution, fl ow management production, product development and commercialization and return management. Within this paper, a research is presented which analyzes the segments of managing collaborative business processes within the supply chain of the fashion industry, based on the responses of 508 managers and employees in the fashion industry in the Republic of Serbia. The needs for the development of certain segments in accordance with the needs of modern business process management have been explored.Scientifi c novelty. The research part of this paper relies on the application of Friedman's test which enables the analysis of the current state of BPM in relations with suppliers and consumers within the supply chain of the fashion industry, expressed through workers' responses with a ranking of their preferences. This paper contributes to the creation of a knowledge base within the research in the fi eld of the impact of BPM on improvements in the supply chain, on the basis of which it is possible to conduct further research and upgrade knowledge.Practical value. The fi ndings derived from the results of research of this type contribute to the development of the business from various aspects. The benefi ts can be refl ected not only through the strengthening of the competitive position but also through the sustainability of business on the basis of adequate application of BPM practices in all business segments. Accordingly, in addition to the scientifi c novelty, which is refl ected in the results of the rese arch work, there is a practical novelty, which is refl ected in the guidelines for the development of modern BPM within the supply chain of the fashion industry.


2016 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 197-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mikhail Komarov ◽  
Nikita Konovalov ◽  
Nikolay Kazantsev

AbstractThe paper discovers potential human interactions with growing amount of internet of things (IoT) via proposed concept of Social Web of Services (classical social web with smart things - daily life objects connected to the internet). To investigate the impact of IoT on user behaviour patterns we modelled human-thing interactions using agent-based simulation (ABM). We have proved that under certain conditions SmartThings, connected to the IoT, are able to change patterns of Human behaviour. Results of this work predict our way of living in the era of caused by viral effects of IoT application (HCI and M2M connections), and could be used to foster business process management in the IoT era.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amirkiarash Kiani

The goal of this research was to investigate the possibility of using Agent-based Modelling, a novel approach in computerized simulation, to assess the effects of staff ratio on recovery time and to develop an empirical research plan based on an inpatient unit. By creating a virtual unit, the researcher was able to develop an adjustable model to test several scenarios based on empirical evidence; to comprehend the impact of changes to staff ratio and patient acuity on nurses’ workload and quality of care to patients. This investigation found that acuity indices of patients have no significant effect on available recovery time or the number of unperformed activities. On the contrary, nurse/patient ratio has substantial effects on both available recovery time and the number of unperformed activities; which asserts the significant effect of insufficient nurse staffing on the well-being of nurses as well as quality of care to patients.


This paper investigates to appoint the fundamental information about outsourcing implications and emphasizes the essential gains and drawbacks of this paper. The objective of the work is to picture the impact of outsourcing on organizational performance and profitability through risk management and alyzing, comprehending the factors, which influence the process of outsourcing. Studying the efficiency of organizational performance and analyzing the attitude of companies for their improvement using outsourcing is another objective of this research. The aim of outsourcing in corporate/ industry is to evaluate the improvement in the performance of the organizations that was mentioned by researchers in literature. Researchers had analyzed the outsourcing and its implication as an important strategy of company many years ago. The outcome is established to demonstrate outsourcing framework from different prospective. Performance effects are inquired by level of operating profit, acquiring margin return on shareholders’ capital and diminution in employment cost can be the significance of outsourcing, which have been followed by organizations. The liquidity of companies that increase by passage of time is the indication of profit. Moreover, managing the risk is the essential aspect for earning profitability of the project.


Author(s):  
Juan Federico Gómez Estupiñán

Resumen El objetivo del artículo es caracterizar el estándar Business Process Model and Notation BPMN, como herramienta gráfica para el modelado de los procesos de negocio de una organización, y realizar un análisis crítico de las posibilidades que ofrece, identificando sus ventajas y desventajas para representar adecuadamente aspectos como actores, actividades, eventos, flujos de trabajo, controles y recursos entre otros. Para verificar la funcionalidad que ofrece BPMN, se usó como caso de estudio ‘Alquiler de Vehículos’, que incluye los procesos básicos de compra, gestión, alquiler y venta de vehículo. Se encontró que la versión BPMN 2.0, incluye un conjunto de prestaciones adicionales que permiten modelar en forma completa y precisa los procesos de negocio, condición necesaria para que a partir de estos modelos se pueda implementar correctamente el sistema de gestión de procesos de negocio, utilizando una herramienta válida para tal fin. Se concluye que BPMN es una herramienta sencilla, fácil de comprender, pero con una gran potencialidad para el modelado de procesos de cualquier tipo de organización. Palabras Clave: Business Process Management BPM, Business Process Model and Notation BPMN, Alquiler de Vehículos, Business Process Management Suite BPMS.   Abstract The aim of this paper is to describe the standard Business Process Model and Notation BPMN, graphic tool for modeling business processes of an organization, and critical analysis of the possibilities, identifying advantages and disadvantages to adequately represent aspects as actors, activities, events, workflows, controls and resources among others. To verify the functionality offered BPMN, is used as a case study ‘Rent a Car’, which includes the basic processes of acquisition, management, leasing and sale of vehicle. We found that this standard, particularly BPMN version 2.0, includes a set of additional features that allow you to model a complete and accurate business processes, necessary condition for that since these models are able to successfully implement the business process management system, using a valid tool for this purpose. We conclude that BPMN is a simple tool, easy to understand, but with a great potential for modeling processes of any type of organization. Keywords: Business Process Management BPM, Business Process Model and Notation BPMN, Rent a Car, Business Process Management Suite BPMS.


Designs ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 17
Author(s):  
Javaid Butt

Digital transformation is no longer a future trend, as it has become a necessity for businesses to grow and remain competitive in the market. The fourth industrial revolution, called Industry 4.0, is at the heart of this transformation, and is supporting organizations in achieving benefits that were unthinkable a few years ago. The impact of Industry 4.0 enabling technologies in the manufacturing sector is undeniable, and their correct use offers benefits such as improved productivity and asset performance, reduced inefficiencies, lower production and maintenance costs, while enhancing system agility and flexibility. However, organizations have found the move towards digital transformation extremely challenging for several reasons, including a lack of standardized implementation protocols, emphasis on the introduction of new technologies without assessing their role within the business, the compartmentalization of digital initiatives from the rest of the business, and the large-scale implementation of digitalization without a realistic view of return on investment. To instill confidence and reduce the anxiety surrounding Industry 4.0 implementation in the manufacturing sector, this paper presents a conceptual framework based on business process management (BPM). The framework is informed by a content-centric literature review of Industry 4.0 technologies, its design principles, and BPM method. This integrated framework incorporates the factors that are often overlooked during digital transformation and presents a structured methodology that can be employed by manufacturing organizations to facilitate their transition towards Industry 4.0.


1996 ◽  
Vol 05 (02n03) ◽  
pp. 105-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. R. JENNINGS ◽  
P. FARATIN ◽  
M. J. JOHNSON ◽  
T. J. NORMAN ◽  
P. O'BRIEN ◽  
...  

This paper describes work undertaken in the ADEPT (Advanced Decision Environment for Process Tasks) project towards developing an agent-based infrastructure for managing business processes. We describe how the key technology of negotiating, service providing, autonomous agents was realized and demonstrate how this was applied to the BT (British Telecom) business process of providing a customer quote for network services.


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