Showing papers on "Process modeling published in 2003"

Hierarchical Modeling and Analysis for Spatial Data

Abstract: OVERVIEW OF SPATIAL DATA PROBLEMS Introduction to Spatial Data and Models Fundamentals of Cartography Exercises BASICS OF POINT-REFERENCED DATA MODELS Elements of Point-Referenced Modeling Spatial Process Models Exploratory Approaches for Point-Referenced Data Classical Spatial Prediction Computer Tutorials Exercises BASICS OF AREAL DATA MODELS Exploratory Approaches for Areal Data Brook's Lemma and Markov Random Fields Conditionally Autoregressive (CAR) Models Simultaneous Autoregressive (SAR) Models Computer Tutorials Exercises BASICS OF BAYESIAN INFERENCE Introduction to Hierarchical Modeling and Bayes Theorem Bayesian Inference Bayesian Computation Computer Tutorials Exercises HIERARCHICAL MODELING FOR UNIVARIATE SPATIAL DATA Stationary Spatial Process Models Generalized Linear Spatial Process Modeling Nonstationary Spatial Process Models Areal Data Models General Linear Areal Data Modeling Exercises SPATIAL MISALIGNMENT Point-Level Modeling Nested Block-Level Modeling Nonnested Block-Level Modeling Misaligned Regression Modeling Exercises MULTIVARIATE SPATIAL MODELING Separable Models Coregionalization Models Other Constructive Approaches Multivariate Models for Areal Data Exercises SPATIOTEMPORAL MODELING General Modeling Formulation Point-Level Modeling with Continuous Time Nonseparable Spatio-Temporal Models Dynamic Spatio-Temporal Models Block-Level Modeling Exercises SPATIAL SURVIVAL MODELS Parametric Models Semiparametric Models Spatio-Temporal Models Multivariate Models Spatial Cure Rate Models Exercises SPECIAL TOPICS IN SPATIAL PROCESS MODELING Process Smoothness Revisited Spatially Varying Coefficient Models Spatial CDFs APPENDICES Matrix Theory and Spatial Computing Methods Answers to Selected Exercises REFERENCES AUTHOR INDEX SUBJECT INDEX Short TOC

Business Process Execution Language for Web Services Version 1.1

Abstract: This document defines a notation for specifying business process behavior based on Web Services. This notation is called Business Process Execution Language for Web Services (abbreviated to BPEL4WS in the rest of this document). Processes in BPEL4WS export and import functionality by using Web Service interfaces exclusively. Business processes can be described in two ways. Executable business processes model actual behavior of a participant in a business interaction. Business protocols, in contrast, use process descriptions that specify the mutually visible message exchange behavior of each of the parties involved in the protocol, without revealing their internal behavior. The process descriptions for business protocols are called abstract processes. BPEL4WS is meant to be used to model the behavior of both executable and abstract processes. BPEL4WS provides a language for the formal specification of business processes and business interaction protocols. By doing so, it extends the Web services interaction model and enables it to support business transactions. BPEL4WS defines an interoperable integration model that should facilitate the expansion of automated process integration in both the intracorporate and the business-to-business spaces. Status of this Document This is an initial public draft release of the BPEL4WS specification. We anticipate a number of extensions to the feature set of BPEL4WS that are discussed briefly at the end of the document. BPEL4WS represents a convergence of the ideas in the XLANG and WSFL specifications. Both XLANG and WSFL are superseded by the BPEL4WS specification. BPEL4WS and related specifications are provided as-is and for review and evaluation only. BEA, IBM and Microsoft hope to solicit your contributions and suggestions in the near future. BEA, IBM and Microsoft make no warrantees or representations regarding the specifications in any manner whatsoever.

Designing geo-spatial interfaces to scale process models: the GeoWEPP approach

Abstract: Practical decision making in spatially distributed environmental assessment and management is increasingly based on environmental process models linked to geographical information systems. Powerful personal computers and Internet-accessible assessment tools are providing much greater public access to, and use of, environmental models and geo-spatial data. However traditional process models, such as the water erosion prediction project (WEPP), were not typically developed with a flexible graphical user interface (GUI) for applications across a wide range of spatial and temporal scales, utilizing readily available geo-spatial data of highly variable precision and accuracy, and communicating with a diverse spectrum of users with different levels of expertise. As the development of the geo-spatial interface for WEPP (GeoWEPP) demonstrates, the GUI plays a key role in facilitating effective communication between the tool developer and user about data and model scales. The GeoWEPP approach illustrates that it is critical to develop a scientific and functional framework for the design, implementation, and use of such geo-spatial model assessment tools. The way that GeoWEPP was developed and implemented suggests a framework and scaling theory leading to a practical approach for developing geo-spatial interfaces for process models. GeoWEPP accounts for fundamental water erosion processes, model, and users needs, but most important it also matches realistic data availability and environmental settings by enabling even non-GIS-literate users to assemble the available geo-spatial data quickly to start soil and water conservation planning. In general, it is potential users' spatial and temporal scales of interest, and scales of readily available data, that should drive model design or selection, as opposed to using or designing the most sophisticated process model as the starting point and then determining data needs and result scales.

The fundamental nature of requirements engineering activities as a decision-making process

Abstract: The requirements engineering (RE) process is a decision-rich complex problem solving activity. This paper examines the elements of organization-oriented macro decisions as well as process-oriented micro decisions in the RE process and illustrates how to integrate classical decision-making models with RE process models. This integration helps in formulating a common vocabulary and model to improve the manageability of the RE process, and contributes towards the learning process by validating and verifying the consistency of decision-making in RE activities.

The process specification language (PSL) theory and applications

Abstract: The PROCESS SPECIFICATION LANGUAGE (PSL) has been designed to facilitate correct and complete exchange of process information among manufacturing systems, such as scheduling, process modeling, process planning, production planning, simulation, project management, work flow, and business-process reengineering. We give an overview of the theories within the PSL ontology, discuss some of the design principles for the ontology, and finish with examples of process specifications that are based on the ontology.

Model driven security for process-oriented systems

Abstract: Model Driven Architecture is an approach to increasing the quality of complex software systems based on creating high-level system models and automatically generating system architectures from the models. We show how this paradigm can be specialized to what we call Model Driven Security. In our specialization, a designer builds a system model along with security requirements, and automatically generates from this a complete, configured security infrastructure.We propose a modular approach to constructing modeling languages supporting this process, which combines languages for modeling system design with languages for modeling security. We present an application to constructing systems from process models, where we combine a UML-based process design language with a security modeling language for formalizing access control requirements. From models in the combined language, we automatically generate security architectures for distributed applications.

Software business process model

Abstract: A business software framework includes an application framework that has a process model. The process model provides desired services to the business components. The process model arranges operations into activities. The process model can also use an agent/service arrangement.

End-to-end business process solution creation

Abstract: A system and method for creating and managing a business process integration solution comprises modeling a business strategy including elements representing business measurements and initiatives according to defined business goals and objectives of an entity; modeling business operations of the entity in terms of business process elements including process tasks, artifact flows and artifact repositories, and business commitment elements including incorporating key performance indicators; mapping elements of the strategy model with artifact and process elements of the operations model; and, measuring business performance and comparing performance measurements against the key performance indicators. The business strategy and operation model process elements may be continuously refined over a solution development lifecycle as a result of process measurements and comparing. A business level modeling language is further implemented for formally representing the business operations.

Implementing enterprise resource planning systems with total quality control and business process reengineering

Abstract: The primary objective of an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system is to help integrate an organization's business operations and processes effectively and efficiently. Not all firms have been successful in their ERP implementations and to that end research has helped to identify many factors that might be critical to a successful implementation. Such factors as the use of business process reengineering (BPR), and establishing a total quality management (TQM) culture have all shown to play important roles in ERP implementation. The focus of this survey research on US electronic manufacturing firms is to identify successful integration sequences of TQM and BPR with ERP. The findings reveal that both the sequence of implementation and the strategies selected to initiate ERP systems can significantly impact business performance successfulness.

A Framework for Business Rule Driven Service Composition

Abstract: With web services emerging as a promising technology for supporting open and dynamic business processes, it is witnessed that standards for business process specification in the context of web services composition have been fast developed in recent years, e.g. WSFL, XLang, BPEL. However, none of the proposing specifications really address the issues of dynamic business process creation, e.g. a vast service space to search, a variety of services to compare and match, and different ways to construct business processes. One of the assumptions these standards make is that the business process is pre-defined. Obviously this assumption does not hold if the business needs to accommodate changes in applications, technology, and organizational policies. We believe business processes can be dynamically built by composing web services if they are constructed based on and governed by business rules. In this paper we analyze the basic elements in business modelling and how they relate to the web service composition process. As a result a rule driven mechanism is developed to govern and guide the process of service composition in terms of five broad composition phases spanning abstract definition, scheduling, construction, execution, and evolution to support on demand and on the fly business process building.

Knowledge-based process management—an approach to handling adaptive workflow

Abstract: In recent years, many organisations have found enterprise modelling, especially business process modelling, to be an effective tool for managing organisational change. The application of business processing modelling has brought benefits to many organisations, but the models developed tend to be used for reference during business operations and re-engineering activities; they rarely play an active role in supporting the day-to-day execution of the processes. While workflow management systems are widely used for the streamlined management of 'administrative' business processes, current systems are unable to cope with the more dynamic situations encountered in ad hoc and collaborative processes [1]. A system that supports complex and dynamically changing processes is required. There is increasing interest in making workflow systems more adaptive and and using knowledge-based techniques to provide more flexible process management support than is possible using current workflow systems and. This paper describes the results of a collaborative project between Loughborough University and the University of Edinburgh. ICI and Unilever were industrial partners on the project, providing real business requirements in the application domain. The project investigated the use of ontologies, agents and knowledge based planning techniques to provide support for adaptive workflow or flexible workflow management, especially in the area of new product development within the chemical industries.

Using business‐process simulation within a business‐process reengineering approach

Abstract: This paper presents a case study of the use of business-process simulation within the context of a business-process-reengineering approach to change. The process-based change methodology provides context to the simulation technique in that it connects the aims of a business-process simulation (BPS) study to the strategic aims of the organisation and incorporates a consideration of human factors in order to achieve successful implementation of redesigned processes. Conversely, the ability of BPS to incorporate system variability, scenario analysis and a visual display to communicate process performance makes it a useful technique to provide a realistic assessment of the need for, and results of, change.

Quality management and improvement: A framework and a business‐process reference model

Abstract: This paper presents a reference model for the process of management of quality and improvement based on a conceptual framework for managing the process of systematically deriving improvement actions from customer expectations and strategic decisions through business processes, and prioritising actions that will most contribute to achievement strategic objectives. After some introductory theoretical background to discuss the need for systematically managing quality and improvement as well as the contribution of mapping business processes, the process reference model is described to a certain extent and detailed by means of activity tree and event‐driven process chain (EPC) diagrams. Finally, some considerations are made on the benefits of using such an approach.

A three-layer architecture for e-contract enforcement in an e-service environment

Abstract: In an e-service environment, contracts are important for attaining business process interoperability and enforcing their proper enactment. An e-contract is the computerized facilitation or automation of a contract in a cross-organizational business process. We find that e-contract enforcement can be divided into multiple layers and perspectives, which has not been adequately addressed in the literature. This problem is challenging as it involves monitoring the enactment of business processes in counter parties outside an organization's boundary. This paper presents an architecture for e-contract enforcement with three layers, viz., document layer, business layer, and implementation layer. In the document layer, contracts are composed of different types of clauses. In the business layer, e-contract enforcement activities are defined through the realization of contract clauses as business rules in event-condition-action (ECA) form. In the implementation layer, cross-organizational e-contract enforcement interfaces are implemented with contemporary Enterprise Java Bean and Web services. We present a methodology for the engineering of e-contracts enforcement from a high-level document-view down to the implementation layer based on this architecture, using a supply-chain example. As a result, e-contracts can be seamlessly defined and enforced. Conceptual models of various layers are given in the Unified Modeling Language (UML).

Method and apparatus for generating it level executable solution artifacts from the operational specification of a business

Abstract: A system and method that implements top-down and bottom-up model-driven transformations between platform-independent (business view) modeling approaches and platform-specific (IT architectural) models. On the business level, business view models may be expressed in, but not limited to ADF or UML2, whereas on the IT architecture side, service-oriented architectures with Web service interfaces and processes are specified in business process protocol languages including, but not limited to, BPEL4WS, or workflow definitions. An architecture and a transformation method based on typed information flows automatically transforms platform-independent business models into executable information technology (IT) architecture specifications constrained by a specific IT platform, and vice versa. The models generated span the entire life cycle of a software system and ease the software production, deployment and maintenance tasks. That is, the different models generated for the same system are “linked” in a way that relevant changes in one model may be propagated to the other models to keep the model set consistent.

Exception handling in the BPEL4WS language

Abstract: Graph oriented models are at the core of most business process management systems. In recent years, "algebraic" business process modeling languages based on different process calculi have been proposed. The semantics of these algebraic process languages are quite different, and seemingly incompatible, with those of graph oriented approaches. In this paper we study how the BPEL4WS exception handling mechanism is used to integrate the algebraic and graph process models. Unlike other approaches to exception handling in business processes, the BPEL4WS model does not require that the process topology be constrained by the exception handling hierarchy, thus allowing both highly structured and graph based processes to benefit from it. Based on this exception handling model, we explain "dead path elimination" (the runtime mechanism by which process termination is ensured) as a form of exception processing. The integration of dead path elimination with the exception handling mechanism provides the semantic base for the integration of the graph and algebraic processes models in BPEL4WS.

New process models for OPC at sub-90-nm nodes

Abstract: At the sub-90nm nodes, model-based OPC accuracy requirements call for highly accurate compact process modeling and modeling strategies. We examined a large number of CD measurement datasets from a variety of 193nm lithography environments to quantify CD contributions from the different processing steps: mask making, resist development and etching. Based on this analysis, we developed a new class of OPC models, called VT5 models, based on the foundation of VTRE models. These physically-based, non-linear OPC models, heuristically capture various propagation, loading, and dissipation effects of silicon processing responsible for CD variability. The VT5 model comprises variable threshold and variable bias forms as functions of the optical image shape and layout density parameters. (Simpler VT5 version without the bias form and densities is reported in Y.Granik, N.Cobb, T.Do, "Universal process modeling with VTRE for OPC", SPIE 2002). We investigated various modeling strategies to streamline OPC model building and optimization. We identified primary optimization candidates among optical and process parameters, stressing model verification as possibly the most important, but often overlooked, step in the model building sequence. Substantial gain in VT5 accuracy comfortably serves the sub-90nm process nodes for the model-based OPC flow within ITRS error budget targets.

Bridging the gap between business models and system models.

Abstract: This paper discusses links that may be made between process models and Unified Modelling Language (UML) software specification techniques, working from an argument that the whole complexity of organisational activity cannot be captured by UML alone. The approach taken is to develop a set of use cases, which would be capable of providing information support to a pre-defined organisational process. The nature of the thinking, which is necessary to derive the use cases, is outlined using the pre-defined process as a case study. The grouping of transactions and state changes into Use Cases is shown to require design choices, which may vary between particular organisational contexts. Conclusions are drawn about the direction of further investigation of links between process modelling and UML.

A process model for component-oriented software engineering

Abstract: The investigation of reuse has a long history, eventually maturing into the "build by integration" paradigm Meanwhile, component technologies also improved along with engineering practices What is missing is a methodology that uses components within such a paradigm, thus bridging the gap The authors propose a model devoted to complete component orientation, rather than modifying object-oriented approaches to accommodate components They investigate component-based technologies to address new needs and, consequently, to integrate adequate practices toward a consistent process model

A business process approach to human resource management

Abstract: The initial objective of the research presented in this paper was to investigate human resource management (HRM) practices from a business process perspective. The paper first demonstrates the level of inconsistency in the field with respect to HRM models. The paper then develops the need for a more formal systems engineering‐based approach for modelling HRM practices from a business process viewpoint. The paper then goes on to describe the model developed for the HRM business process together with the methodology used to validate the model. The paper concludes with a discussion on the validity of the model, which further demonstrates the differing points of view in this complex and multidisciplinary field.

Preparation of Process Modeling

Abstract: The quality of conceptual models has been the subject of the academic research28 for a long time. Comprehensive work has been conducted on the quality of data models29, and, in recent years, related work analyzed quality issues related to process models30 as well. Even so, a common consensus about the essential quality features of these models has not yet been achieved. Reports about the practical use of corporate-wide data models31 and their insufficient benefits prove that significant modeling initiatives carry an economic risk. Therefore, process models have to be evaluated using the same factors apply as for any other product, i.e. time, costs, and quality. In particular, the errors made in the 80’s, when company-wide data models were often created without a significant purpose in mind, need to be avoided when creating process models.

Internationalisation and evolution of manufacturing systems: classic process models, new industrial issues and academic challenges

Abstract: Based on both the observations of case studies during the last few years and on action research work on the global manufacturing strategy development, this paper introduces another type of evolutionary process that looks at the internationalisation of manufacturing systems. The paper seeks to explore the new driving forces and responses of manufacturing systems in terms of their static architectures, dynamic mechanisms, and strategic capabilities in the evolutionary process. Reviews those internationalization models developed during the last 25 years, as well as reviewing manufacturing globalisation over the last 15 years, to gain a comprehensive picture about the international manufacturing system (IMS). Based on the empirical observations of industrial issues and the difficulties faced, a new research framework is proposed that will tackle the wider issues in international manufacturing, covering the manufacturing value creation process, internationalisation process, and inter‐firm collaboration formation process. Argues that it is important for future research to develop the strategy process to synthesise the three dimensions of the IMS.

Business process management systems

Abstract: Business process automation is what e-business is all about. The essence of an "electronically" powered business is its ability to streamline operations, making information available where and when it is needed, thus increasing customer satisfaction and improving efficiency and effectiveness. However, implementing a solution for automating business processes presents significant difficulties at the business and technical levels. Through the years, enterprises have adopted various means for automating processes, from hand-coding a solution to using integration products and middleware technologies. The key characteristics for each of these solutions are that they are proprietary, expensive and complex. Additionally, they require a lot of time and a high skill set in order to succeed in an integration initiative. Fortunately, recent technical developments have come together that promise a dramatic increase in the ability of businesses to describe, change, and execute business processes, both within the enterprise and across the networked enterprise. There will be a new breed of Business Process Management Systems (BPMS) that support the management of end-to-end transactional and collaboration processes: discovery, design, deployment, execution, interaction, operation/maintenance, analysis and optimization. BPM is emerging as a key enabler of collaborative commerce. In this seminar, we will comprehensively look at the emerging field of Business Process Management Systems (BPMS). We will study different steps of BPM, the underlying technologies (workflow, rules, data and application integration etc.), process based architectures and tools, and case studies illustrating the benefits of BPM.

The Enterprise Architecture IT Project: The Urbanisation Paradigm

Abstract: 1 Foundations: identifying necessary changes safeguarding coherence and improving the efficiency of the IT system improving speed of installation the metaphor of the city concepts and rules urbanism of the city and IT systems urbanism rules the infrastructure 2 Illustration of the approach: i the tour operator case study ii Urbanism and strategy: harnessing and modelling the strategy objectives model enterprise diagram case study iii urbanism and business processes: business processes cartography process modelling evaluation and improvement of processes case study iv Urbanism and functional architecture: functional and business architecture the urbanism rules case study v urbanism and software architecture: software and functional architecture software cartography transition from target functional architecture to target software architecture case study 3 The methodological approach: defining the target and the associated migration plan construction of the solution urbanisation process of IT system 4 The dynamic of the actors: the participants and their roles skills, techniques and tools new approach to relationship between project ownership and management the urbanism focus group