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Dealing with the complexity of business systems architecting
Author(s) -
Biemans F.P.M.,
Lankhorst M.M.,
Teeuw W.B.,
van de Wetering R.G.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
systems engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.474
H-Index - 50
eISSN - 1520-6858
pISSN - 1098-1241
DOI - 10.1002/sys.1010
Subject(s) - heuristics , business process modeling , artifact centric business process model , computer science , business process , complexity management , testbed , business rule , process (computing) , process modeling , business process discovery , process management , business process model and notation , systems engineering , management science , software engineering , engineering , work in process , operations management , business , marketing , computer network , operating system
Abstract Engineers are trained to design systems such as bridges, computers, and aircraft in a well‐structured manner. However, the design of business processes has not yet matured to this level. We argue that the complexity of business processes is the major cause. In this paper, we investigate the causes of this complexity, and provide heuristics to master this complexity. Business process “architecting,” the high‐level, functional design of business processes, is more an art than a science. Consequently, experience is very important. The heuristics we provide are based on an analysis of the reasons why business process architecting is so complex as well as our experience resulting from the Testbed project, a cooperative project of industry and research organizations. We conclude by discussing some basic requirements for modeling concepts and methods. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Syst Eng 4: 118–133, 2001