Using Markov Theory to Deliver Informed Decisions in Partially Observable Business Processes Operation

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 53-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sérgio Guerreiro
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Business Processes ◽  
The State ◽  
Enterprise Engineering ◽  
Business Transaction ◽  
Body Of Knowledge ◽  
Transaction Models ◽  
Partially Observable ◽  
Belief States

This article explores the stochastic capabilities offered by Markov theories combined with business transaction models, from the Enterprise Engineering field, to contribute to the decision-making body of knowledge. An agro-food case study shows the utility of this solution and the evaluation argues the management decisions value in situations where is not possible to fully observe the state of the reality, or to be fully aware about it. A full policy graph that forecasts the belief states from observations and enacted actions is delivered.

Integration between knowledge management and business process management and its impact on the decision making process in the construction sector: a case study of Jordan

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sami Wasef Abuezhayeh ◽  
Les Ruddock ◽  
Issa Shehabat
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Business Process Management ◽  
Process Management ◽  
Business Processes ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Construction Sector ◽  
Content Type

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate and explain how organizations in the construction sector can enhance their decision-making process (DMP) by practising knowledge management (KM) and business process management (BPM) activities. A conceptual framework is developed that recognises the elements that impact DMP in terms of KM and BPM. The development of this framework goes beyond current empirical work on KM in addition to BPM as it investigates a wider variety of variables that impact DMP. Design/methodology/approach A case study is undertaken in the context of the construction industry in Jordan. A theoretical framework is developed and assessment of the proposed framework was undertaken through a questionnaire survey of decision-makers in the construction sector and expert interviews. Findings The outcomes of this research provide several contributions to aid decision-makers in construction organizations. Growth in the usage of KM and BPM, in addition to the integration between them, can provide employees with task-related knowledge in the organization’s operative business processes, improve process performance, promote core competence and maximise and optimise business performance. Originality/value Through the production of a framework, this study provides a tool to enable improved decision-making. The framework generates a strong operational as well as theoretical approach to the organizational utilization of knowledge and business processes.

(Re)Designing Business Processes Using Markov Theory and Constrained State, Transition and Actor Role Spaces

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 43-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sérgio Guerreiro
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Business Process ◽  
Business Processes ◽  
The Body ◽  
Process Redesign ◽  
Discount Factors ◽  
Body Of Knowledge ◽  
Markov Decision ◽  
Decision Making Processes ◽  
The Impact

Decision-making processes are the utmost important to steer the organizational change whenever business process workarounds are attempted during operational times. However, to decide the non-compliant situations, e.g., bypasses, social resistance, or collusion; the business manager demands contextualized and correct interpretations of the existing business process redesign options to cope with workarounds. This article explores the need to aid the decision-making process with a full constructional perspective to optimize the business processes redesign. So, the Markov decision process is combined with the body of knowledge of business processes, in specific, the concepts of designing enterprise-wide business transactions. This methodology supports the management initiatives with more knowledge about the value of business processes redesign. A classical chain of Order-to-Cash business processes (the order, the production, the distribution and the selling of goods) illustrate the benefits of this quantitative approach. Results obtained for business processes redesign in reaction to workarounds are reported. The analysis results show that this approach can anticipate the sub-optimal solutions before taking actions and highlights the impact of discount factors in the final obtained value. The contribution of this novel conceptual integration to the business processes community is the forecast of value function of business transaction redesign options when facing non-compliant workarounds. From related literature, business processes compliance usually comprises offline computation and the redesign is only considered in the forthcoming business processes instances. This article is innovative in the sense that it anticipates the value impact of a redesign, allowing more effective decisions to be taken.

Making the Case for Practice-Based Research and the Imperative Role of Design Practitioners

2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 66-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kara Freihoefer ◽  
Terri Zborowsky
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Design Practice ◽  
Design Work ◽  
Body Of Knowledge ◽  
Current State ◽  
Practice Based Research ◽  
Architecture And Design ◽  
Validation Tool

The purpose of this article is to justify the need for evidence-based design (EBD) in a research-based architecture and design practice. This article examines the current state of practice-based research (PBR), supports the need for EBD, illustrates PBR methods that can be applied to design work, and explores how findings can be used as a decision-making tool during design and as a validation tool during postoccupancy. As a result, design professions’ body of knowledge will advance and practitioners will be better informed to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the society. Furthermore, characteristics of Friedman’s progressive research program are used as a framework to examine the current state of PBR in design practice. A modified EBD approach is proposed and showcased with a case study of a renovated inpatient unit. The modified approach demonstrates how a highly integrated project team, especially the role of design practitioners, contributed to the success of utilizing baseline findings and evidence in decision-making throughout the design process. Lastly, recommendations and resources for learning research concepts are provided for practitioners. It is the role of practitioners to pave the way for the next generation of design professionals, as the request and expectation for research become more prevalent in design practice.

A Comparative Case Study of Three Korean Firms

2009 ◽  
pp. 145-162
Author(s):  
Junghoon Lee ◽  
Jungwoo Lee ◽  
Ja Young Lee
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Service Sector ◽  
Business Processes ◽  
Research Work ◽  
Comparative Case Study ◽  
Study Analysis ◽  
Multiple Perspectives ◽  
Case Study Analysis ◽  
Business Values

Research has recently begun to place greater emphasis on the strategic application of IT in seeking to integrate firms’ IT infrastructures and business processes, thus boosting companies’ business values. In this context, efforts have been made to formulate workable structures for companies’ IT governance (ITG); however, little practical research has considered the effect of different forms of ITG in a range of domestic and multinational companies. This study undertakes a comparative case study analysis of the ITG setups of three large service sector firms in Korea. This research work sought to identify the activities, types, and determinants of firms’ ITG decision making processes, and to suggest the basis on which forms of ITG may represent rational selections for given service companies. The study was based on in-depth interviews with representatives of three firms, analysis of in-house materials, and the application of multiple perspectives dealing with ITG domains. Case study analysis yielded a detailed picture of the characteristics of ITG related decision making within the firms, suggesting the validity of the proposed ITG framework. The proposed and partially validated ITG framework should be useful for further research and practice of ITG.

scholarly journals Big Data Analysis Proposal for Manufacturing Firm

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 68-75
Author(s):  
Alicia Valdez ◽  
Griselda Cortes ◽  
Laura Vazquez ◽  
Adriana Martinez ◽  
Gerardo Haces
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Data Analysis ◽  
Business Processes ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Manufacturing Companies ◽  
Manufacturing Firm ◽  
Production Factors ◽  
Ac Motors ◽  
Selection Of

The analysis of large volumes of data is an important activity in manufacturing companies, since they allow improving the decision-making process. The data analysis has generated that the services and products are personalized, and how the consumption of the products has evolved, obtaining results that add value to the companies in real time. In this case study, developed in a large manufacturing company of electronic components as robots and AC motors; a strategy has been proposed to analyze large volumes of data and be able to analyze them to support the decision-making process; among the proposed activities of the strategy are: Analysis of the technological architecture, selection of the business processes to be analyzed, installation and configuration of Hadoop software, ETL activities, and data analysis and visualization of the results. With the proposed strategy, the data of nine production factors of the motor PCI boards were analyzed, which had a greater incidence in the rejection of the components; a solution was made based on the analysis, which has allowed a decrease of 28.2% in the percentage of rejection.

Situated Service-Oriented Modeling

2011 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 52-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raafat George Saadé ◽  
Rustam Vahidov
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Business Processes ◽  
User Requirements ◽  
Effective Management ◽  
Service Oriented ◽  
E Learning ◽  
Ease Of Access ◽  
Access To Data

The emergence of e-services benefited the stakeholders due to ease of access to data, information and knowledge sources. Service-based applications have evolved into flexible and adaptable systems capable of coping with changes in user requirements and business processes. The shift from monolithic application silos towards service-oriented approaches is evident in the literature today. The benefits of service-oriented approaches include cost effectiveness, improved inter-operability, reusability, and flexibility. The benefits are not enjoyed without the threat of cognitively overloading managers in their decision making activities. Tools for effective management of information are necessary. Effective and efficient service-oriented applications need to operate within their situational boundaries. As such, decision support type tools require tight integration with the service-based approach. This study proposes an integrated Situated Service-Oriented Model and demonstrates its value via a case study of an e-learning service-based application used over a period of 15 months. Two designs were used; component-based and service-oriented. The significance of this study is in the tangible value of the model proposed and demonstrated by the e-learning case study.

Situated Service-Oriented Modeling

2013 ◽  
pp. 54-75
Author(s):  
Raafat George Saadé ◽  
Rustam Vahidov
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Decision Support ◽  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Business Processes ◽  
User Requirements ◽  
Service Oriented ◽  
E Learning ◽  
Ease Of Access ◽  
Access To Data

The emergence of e-services benefited the stakeholders due to ease of access to data, information and knowledge sources. Service-based applications have evolved into flexible and adaptable systems capable of coping with changes in user requirements and business processes. The shift from monolithic application silos towards service-oriented approaches is evident in the literature today. The benefits of service-oriented approaches include cost effectiveness, improved inter-operability, reusability, and flexibility. The benefits are not enjoyed without the threat of cognitively overloading managers in their decision making activities. Tools for effective management of information are necessary. Effective and efficient service-oriented applications need to operate within their situational boundaries. As such, decision support type tools require tight integration with the service-based approach. This study proposes an integrated Situated Service-Oriented Model and demonstrates its value via a case study of an e-learning service-based application used over a period of 15 months. Two designs were used; component-based and service-oriented. The significance of this study is in the tangible value of the model proposed and demonstrated by the e-learning case study.

Innovative extension practices in East Khasi Hillsdistrict of Meghalaya: A case study

2016 ◽  
Vol 50 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Syiem ◽  
B> R. Marak ◽  
A. K. Bandyopadhyay
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Capacity Building ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Simple Random Sampling ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
The State ◽  
Time Saving ◽  
Access To Credit ◽  
Grassroots Level

The study was conducted on innovative practices namely Intelligent Advisory System for Farmers (IASF) and Enterprise Facilitation Centres (EFCs) in East Khasi Hills District of Meghalaya with an attempt to identify the innovative agricultural extension practices in the state which are more effective and reachable to the grassroots level. Simple random sampling method was followed in selecting forty farmers from each of the two selected innovative practices launched in Meghalaya. Data was collected using a structured interview schedule. Statistical tools such as mean, standard deviation, frequency and percentage were used for the study. The results showed that out of total respondents selected for the study 80% farmers perceived that IASF had increased their knowledge of agricultural practices, 20% farmers reported cost and time saving and 27% percent farmers reported influence in their decision making ability through ‘Mobile Crop Doctor’. Similarly, it was found that 60% farmers received capacity building support from EFCs, 33% farmers reported influence in their decision making ability and 27% famers had a better access to credit with the help of EFCs. However, these practices had been introduced recently in the state and are in its nascent stage, therefore more awareness on the benefits of using ICTs should be given to farmers along with better training and capacity building to encourage and enable them to utilise the benefits of ICTs and improve their farming practices.

scholarly journals Cradle-to-Cradle in Project Management

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-27
Author(s):  
Aydan Ismayilova ◽  
Gilbert Silvius
Keyword(s):  
Project Management ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Business Processes ◽  
Stakeholder Management ◽  
Business Practices ◽  
Body Of Knowledge ◽  
Cradle To Cradle ◽  
A Company ◽  
Practical Implications

One of the most-recognized circular economy frameworks is the Cradle-to-Cradle design philosophy. However, integrating circularity in business practices impacts all organizational activities and not just the design of products and services. One of the business processes that needs to integrate sustainability is project management. The study reported in this article explores the integration of the Cradle-to-Cradle philosophy into project management practices. Based on a single in-depth case study, the integration of Cradle-to-Cradle into the knowledge areas of project management within a company that is widely recognized and praised for its commitment to sustainability and its compliance with Cradle-to-Cradle, was explored. The study revealed as most impacted knowledge areas: resource, integration, quality, communications, and stakeholder management. By identifying these areas, the study contributes to the emerging body of knowledge on sustainable project management and provides a better understanding of practical implications for companies striving to become sustainable.

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