Methods, incl. modeling methods, are important for designing innovations. They (should) provide hands-on guidance for creating outcomes in a systematic way using certain techniques. These techniques need to be understood, (correctly) applied, and possibly also selected as well as arranged. Previous research called for more studies on the 'presentation formats' supporting these tasks, specifically for practitioners. This is especially relevant for the early stage of innovation projects. Here, business stakeholders with different disciplinary backgrounds engage in collaborative design who are not accustomed to, e.g., formalized notations. For this context, we develop support for understanding, selecting, arranging, and applying modeling techniques. Following the design science research paradigm, we develop the presentation format of a two-page diagram brief. The development of this artifact is informed by the established format of design cards as well as knowledge from research in enterprise modeling and situational method engineering. A brief is centered around one or few closely related diagrams and provides information structured along nine categories which are identical for all briefs. For example, briefs provide outcome creation and usage instructions, excerpts from a stakeholder perspective catalog, and quality criteria. The brief design is demonstrated through 18 briefs for strategy, organization, and high-level information technology design and evaluated with survey data (n = 88). Our research contributes a template for researchers, instructors, and practitioners to support lightweight, collaborative modeling by non-experts (i.e., grass-roots modeling) in the early stage of innovation projects.
Maritime operations, crucial for global trade, increasingly rely on digital navigation and communication systems, making them vulnerable to cyber threats such as Global Positioning System (GPS) jamming, Automatic Identification System (AIS) spoofing, and multi-vector attacks. These threats compromise vessel safety, disrupt port logistics, and challenge maritime security. This paper introduces harborLang, a domain-specific language (DSL) for modeling and analyzing maritime cybersecurity risks. Built on the Meta Attack Language (MAL) framework, harborLang provides a structured approach to representing maritime assets, their interdependencies, and cyberattack propagation pathways. By enabling systematic risk assessment, it supports the secure digitalization of maritime operations. The evaluation demonstrates harborLang's ability to model real-world cyber threats, highlighting its potential for enhancing maritime cybersecurity. Future extensions will expand its applicability to multi-vessel interactions and port-wide threat modeling, further strengthening maritime resilience against cyber risks.
This research-in-progress paper presents part of an ongoing project related to using LLMs for describing, analyzing, and designing work systems (including information systems). General axioms that apply to any non-trivial WS or IS might provide a path toward new tools and methods. This paper identifies 24 work system axioms that extend earlier research. They are organized in five categories: 1) system in context, 2) system operation, 3) system goals and goal attainment, 4) system uncertainties, and 5) system-related change. The axioms potentially address the challenge of helping business and IS/IT professionals understand and collaborate around systems in organization. This preliminary research hints at the potential value of the axioms based on results when an LLM applied them to two case studies.
The increasing complexity of military command and control systems (C2-systems) requires a robust framework for integrating emerging technologies effectively. This article is part of a research project employing Design Science Research Methodology (DSRM) with the primary objective of developing a conceptual framework, including models and methods, designed to assist designers and military commanders in assessing and understanding C2-systems from a socio-technical perspective. Additionally, the research aims to provide guidance on analyzing how individual sub-systems in a C2-system influence the entire system. In previous publications, the authors have explored the challenges associated with the integration of emerging technologies into C2-systems, and have also outlined an initial iteration of a concepts model and a goal model. This article addresses the refinement and stakeholder validation of these models, and outlines an in-depth exploration of the decomposition process from high-level goals to specific sub-goals and requirements. Following the DSRM, the authors have engaged stakeholders from the military, research and acquisition domains in a series of workshops. These were designed to extract feedback and insights, ensuring that the models are both accurate and relevant. Data elicited during these sessions were analyzed to validate the coherence of the overall structure as well as the semantic quality of proposed models. The findings indicate that combining goal models with a concepts model, enhances the understanding of, and the requirements on, C2-systems. Moreover, the validation through stakeholder engagement not only refines the goal and concepts model but also fosters a shared understanding among stakeholders regarding the objectives and challenges associated with integration of emerging technologies. The results presented in this article provide actionable insights for practitioners seeking to understand and improve military C2-systems. The results also highlight the importance of both conceptual and goal-oriented frameworks in guiding the understanding and integration of emerging technologies, ultimately contributing to more effective C2-systems.
As engineering systems become increasingly complex, organizations must adopt strategic approaches to manage the interdependencies of their processes, tools, and teams. Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) offers a promising solution, but transitioning from a traditional SE approach to MBSE is a complex endeavor that requires significant organizational change. This paper addresses the need for structured guidance in this process by proposing a maturity assessment framework that supports organizations in navigating this transition. The proposed framework is developed using a design science based approach and identifies key challenges, pitfalls, and best practices that are organized into several maturity levels of MBSE adoption. This structured, high-level approach provides organizations with the tools to understand their current maturity level, prioritize efforts, and avoid common missteps. The framework allows organizations to tailor the insights to their unique context, ensuring practical applicability. It emphasizes the importance of leadership, cultural readiness, technical tools, workforce development, and modeling practices for successful MBSE implementation.
