A semantically integrated conceptual modelling method for business process reengineering

Abstract

Information system methodologies project different modelling aspects into disparate dimensions and it creates difficulties to achieve integrity in various diagram types. Concepts cannot be analysed in isolation from interactions and state changes, which is the case in current traditional system development methods. The lack of an integrated graphical modelling approach creates problems in rethinking and changing business processes. In this chapter, we present Semantically Integrated Conceptual Modeling (SICM) method and demonstrate how the method can be applied for business process re-engineering. A well-known case study is analyzed to demonstrate how service interactions among enterprise organizational components can be represented to detect the essential similarities and differences of business processes. Service architecture is graphically described in terms of interactions among organizational and technical enterprise system components. One of the advantages of SICM method is based on a single type of diagram, which represents interactive, transitional and the structural aspects of concepts. State changes result from processes that are represented by creation and termination events of various concepts.