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A theory of enterprise transformation
Author(s) -
Rouse William B.
Publication year - 2005
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.20035
Subject(s) - pace , variety (cybernetics) , transformation (genetics) , globalization , competition (biology) , management science , enterprise architecture , business , knowledge management , process management , computer science , industrial organization , engineering , architecture , economics , ecology , art , biochemistry , chemistry , geodesy , artificial intelligence , biology , market economy , visual arts , gene , geography
The information technology revolution has driven the pace of competition and rapid globalization. Consequently, enterprises increasingly need to consider and pursue fundamental changetransformation—to maintain or gain competitive advantage. This need raises important research issues concerning how transformation is best understood and pursued. This paper outlines a theory of enterprise transformation to guide research on these issues. The theory focuses on why and how transformation happens, as well as ways in which transformation is addressed and pursued in terms of work processes and the architecture of these processes. A variety of industry and corporate vignettes is used to illustrate the theory. A portfolio of research initiatives are discussed in terms of how they can advance the proposed theory, while also enhancing practices of enterprise transformation. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Eng 8: 279–295, 2005