Florian Johannsen, Susanne Leist and Reinhold Tausch
The purpose of this paper is to specify the decomposition conditions of Wand and Weber for the Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN). Therefore, an interpretation of the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to specify the decomposition conditions of Wand and Weber for the Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN). Therefore, an interpretation of the conditions for BPMN is derived and compared to a specification of the conditions for enhanced Event-Driven Process Chains (eEPCs). Based on these results, guidelines for a conformance check of BPMN and eEPC models with the decomposition conditions are shown. Further, guidelines for decomposition are formulated for BPMN models. The usability of the decomposition guidelines is tested with modelling experts.
Design/methodology/approach
An approach building on a representational mapping is used for specifying the decomposition conditions. Therefore, ontological constructs of the Bunge-Wand-Weber ontology are mapped to corresponding modelling constructs and an interpretation of the decomposition conditions for BPMN is derived. Guidelines for a conformance check are then defined. Based on these results, decomposition guidelines are formulated. Their usability is tested in interviews.
Findings
The research shows that the decomposition conditions stemming from the information systems discipline can be transferred to business process modelling. However, the interpretation of the decomposition conditions depends on specific characteristics of a modelling language. Based on a thorough specification of the conditions, it is possible to derive guidelines for a conformance check of process models with the conditions. In addition, guidelines for decomposition are developed and tested. In the study, these are perceived as understandable and helpful by experts.
Research limitations/implications
Research approaches based on representational mappings are subjected to subjectivity. However, by having three researchers performing the approach independently, subjectivity can be mitigated. Further, only ten experts participated in the usability test, which is therefore to be considered as a first step in a more comprising evaluation.
Practical implications
This paper provides the process modeller with guidelines enabling a conformance check of BPMN and eEPC process models with the decomposition conditions. Further, guidelines for decomposing BPMN models are introduced.
Originality/value
This paper is the first to specify Wand and Weber's decomposition conditions for process modelling with BPMN. A comparison to eEPCs shows, that the ontological expressiveness influences the interpretation of the conditions. Further, guidelines for decomposing BPMN models as well as for checking their adherence to the decomposition conditions are presented.
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Florian Johannsen and Susanne Leist
The purpose of this paper is to develop a proposed Six Sigma approach for integrated solutions of goods and services.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to develop a proposed Six Sigma approach for integrated solutions of goods and services.
Design/methodology/approach
This conceptual paper follows the principles of design research in developing a Six Sigma approach for integrated solutions. The approach is tested in practice in the context of a financial services company in the automotive industry.
Findings
The study demonstrates that the differential characteristics of service processes and manufacturing processes must be taken into account when developing a Six Sigma approach for integrated solutions. Evaluation of the proposed approach in cooperation with a financial services company reveals considerable benefits.
Research limitations/implications
The detailed description of the approach is limited to the “Define” phase of the Six Sigma program. Moreover, the proposed approach is tested in only one setting; its application in other settings should be an objective for future research.
Practical implications
The paper provides practitioners with a structured Six Sigma approach for integrated solutions.
Originality/value
The paper is the first to propose a Six Sigma approach for integrated solutions of goods and services.
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Josef Blasini and Susanne Leist
Although process performance management (PPM), doubtlessly contributes to the increase of business performance, it has been given only little attention to date. The purpose of…
Abstract
Purpose
Although process performance management (PPM), doubtlessly contributes to the increase of business performance, it has been given only little attention to date. The purpose of this paper is to provide a better understanding of what constitutes successful PPM and to identify critical success factors in PPM.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors conducted two complementary literature reviews – a representative literature review to get an overview of possible success factors, and an extended literature review to identify detailed success factor items. To increase the reliability of the success factors, a multiple case‐study was additionally conducted.
Findings
In the first literature review – the representative one – 11 success factors of PPM were identified, to which several detailed PPM success factor items could be identified in the extended literature review. Obviously, the success factor “information quality” is much more mentioned in literature than factors regarding “process quality” or “system quality”.
Research limitations/implications
Since there are no standardized terms regarding PPM, it is challenging to include all important papers into the literature review. The next steps to develop a PPM success model are to conceptualize a structural equation model and to conduct a worldwide online‐survey.
Practical implications
The findings of this research serve as a basis for a PPM success model, which enables practitioners to focus on what is really important for successful PPM.
Originality/value
The application of a multi‐methodological research approach resulted in success factors whose importance was evaluated by their frequency of occurrence in literature, as well as by experts in real‐life enterprises.