In business process management, decision situations are often characterized by fuzziness. This means that the decision premises are not available in the form of mathematic models or numeric values, but rather as fuzzy conditions, such as “low processing time” or “high quality”. This article will show how fuzzy conditions and vaguely formulated goals in business process models can be considered using the fuzzy set theory. This fuzzy extension of process modelling is carried out with the event-driven process chain.

Business Process Management (BPM) has gained remarkable importance in research and practice in the last years. Innovative information and communication technology (ICT) is a driver for the effectiveness and efficiency of enterprise collaboration and the management of inter-organizational business processes. In this context, cooperating enterprises need a shared understanding of their own processes, those of their partners as well as of emerging inter-organizational process structures. In order to create such a shared understanding, the concept of collaborative modeling can serve as a useful approach. This article introduces a concept for collaborative business process modeling and its implementation in the CoMoMod tool. The tool supports several aspects of collaborative process modeling, such as simultaneous work of spatially distributed modelers on one process model diagram. Furthermore the tool permits synchronously creating a collaborative model with different modeling languages by automatically mapping and converting the different model representations. The proof of concept utilizes Event-driven Process Chains (EPC) and Petri Nets. The usage of an integrated chat messaging service supports communication during the process of collaboratively modeling business process.

This article describes a collaboration methodology for virtual organizations where the processes can be automatically executed using a hybrid web service, grid or cloud resources. Typically, the process of deriving executable workflows from process models is cumbersome and can be automated only in part or specific to a particular distributed system. The approach introduced in this paper, exemplified by the construction industry field, integrates existing technology within a process-centric framework. The solution on the basis of a hybrid system architecture in conjunction with semantic methods for consistency saving and the framework for modeling VO processes and their automated transformation and execution are discussed in detail.

Laboratory experiments as evaluating method for IT artifacts – Experimental design and use case within a Product-Service-System" (2010).

Grid-Middleware erlaubt den verteilten Zugriff auf Softwareund Hardwareressourcen, indem sie prinzipiell solche Ressourcen beschreibt und einem Anwender über Protokoll und API auf seinem Arbeitsplatz zur Verfügung stellt. Ressourcen liegen auf entfernten Knoten, ihr Zustand ist jederzeit ermittelbar und Daten werden über definierte Protokolle ausgetauscht. Höherwertige Anwendungen werden durch Aggregation einzelner Ressourcen in Workflows komponiert, die durch entsprechende Werkzeuge vom Anwender modellierbar sind. Im Bereich „Kooperative Informationssysteme“ auf Basis einer SOA benötigt man aber eine Architektur, die es dem Anwender erlaubt, durch Formulierung eines Informationsinteresses einen dynamischen evtl. zyklischen Workflow zu starten, der zum Anfragezeitpunkt noch gar nicht bekannt ist, sondern vom System durch Vergleich der verfügbaren Ressourcen mit den angefragten Informationsobjekten erzeugt wird. Statische Workflowsysteme z.B. auf Basis von WS-BPEL (Web Services Business Process Execution Language) eignen sich nicht für diese Anforderung. Stattdessen verwenden wir einen Ansatz aus dem Bereich semantische Webservices, um zielgetriebene verteilte Aufgabenverarbeitung in einem Anwendungsbereich kooperativer Informationssysteme für die Luftbildauswertung zu realisieren. Jedoch berücksichtigen die Standardframeworks aus diesem Bereich keine Grid-Dienste und die dort eingeführten Formate, eine Integration ist aufgrund derselben technischen Schnittstelle (WSRF – Web Service Resource Framework) aber möglich. Die Hauptaufgabe dafür liegt in der Integration der Beschreibungselemente der Grid-Ressourcen in den Erzeugungsprozess des Workflows als nicht-funktionale Parameter. Die hier vorgestellten Arbeiten sind Bestandteil zu einem möglichen Semantik Grid Ansatz als Basis für eine service-orientierte Architektur.

Recent research has led to proposals for the integration of fuzzy based information and decision rules in business process models with use of concepts based on the fuzzy set theory. While the proposed fuzzy-EPCs provide an adequate method for the conceptual representation of fuzzy business process models, the issue of exchanging and transforming such models, together with its enclosed executable components with other dedicated information systems, such as work-flow management systems and fuzzy modeling tools has not yet been approached. As a first step in this direction, our paper proposes a machine-readable fuzzy-EPC representation in XML based on the EPC Markup Language (EPML). We will start with the formal fuzzy-EPC syntax definition and then introduce our extensions to EPML. An application scenario will next highlight the potential and future application areas of the fuzzy-EPC schema.

The unified documentation of models and their relations, which vary greatly concerning the description view, the abstraction level, the language used and the purpose for which they have been built, is still challenging. The knowledge about the relations, which exist between models is usually not captured in a systematic way and hence cannot be searched and reused across different projects and stakeholders. Therefore we examine semantic wikis for the systematic collection and documentation of this knowledge. Firstly, we compare semantic wikis by means of a comparison framework, which permits the problem-adequate selection of semantic wikis. For the practical use of semantic Wikis, we secondly propose a metadata structure and demonstrate their usage based on a prototype.

This paper addresses the process-oriented collaboration based on a grid-based platform for the support of virtual organizations (VO), illustrated on the example of the construction industry. Distributed, organizational and IT-structures of teams involved in vintage complex projects cannot be managed with conventional methods in an appropriate manner. Both using a grid platform and grid-based services, in conjunction with semantic methods for consistency saving and goal-oriented process management can increase the efficiency of collaboration processes in large-scale projects. A hybrid gridand web service-based architecture for the next generation of VO service and a gateway solution was developed integrating the process-oriented perspective and prototypically implemented. The problem, as well as the solution on the basis of the hybrid system architecture combing the benefits of the cutting-edge technologies, the methodical concept for modeling VO processes and their automated execution on a grid platform are discussed in detail.

Die Modellierung von Geschäftsprozessen hat sich als Mediator zwischen be-triebswirtschaftlicher Anforderungsbeschreibung (IT-Demand) und IT-technischer Umsetzung (IT-Supply) etabliert und wird daher auch bei der Modellierung von IT-basierten Dienstleistungsprozessen verwendet. Die Modellbildung als Instrument der Komplexitätsreduktion stößt dabei immer häufiger an die Grenzen der Beherrschbarkeit. Es werden Prozessmodelle benötigt, die für betriebswirtschaft-liche IT-Nachfrager fachlich nachvollziehbar sind sowie als Ausgangspunkt für Implementierungsverfahren für die IT-Produzenten dienen. Hierfür wird eine Er-weiterung der Ausdrucksmächtigkeit fachkonzeptioneller Prozessmodellierungs-sprachen vorgeschlagen, welche unscharfe Aspekte des menschlichen Prozessver-ständnisses formalisiert aufgreift. Weiterhin sind Explikationstechniken anzuwen-den, die das unscharfe Wissen verwendungsgerecht in die erweiterte Modellierung überführen.

In today’s business, effective enterprise cooperation and efficient utilization of appropriate information technology are basic prerequisites for the success of individual companies and networks. This means that the process-oriented management has to offer adequate support for collaboration. This article shows how monolithic business process management can be enhanced considering the Web 2.0 paradigm. The concept is carried out with a platform for collaborative business process management which integrates functions for cooperative model management and for using collective intelligence.

The unified documentation of models and their relations which vary greatly in regard to the description view, the abstraction level, the language used and the purpose for which they have been built is challenging. The knowledge about the relations which exist between models created with a diverse set of tools is usually not captured in a systematic way and hence cannot be searched and reused across different projects and stakeholders. Therefore we suggest semantic wikis for the collection of this knowledge. The Problem of Managing Model Relations The current situation in process management can be characterized by language pluralism. Although with BPMN a de facto standard is emerging, not all economically relevant facts can be described with BPMN. In general, languages used to construct models from a business perspective (e.g. EPC, UML Activity Diagram, IDEF3) differ from those used to construct executable models (e.g. BPMN, BPEL, XL and XPDL) for example in regard to the extent to which exceptions and failures can be represented. Moreover, different models on different levels of abstraction from information technology are created (Lippe et al. 2005, p. 9). Although present modeling tools allow to capture some limited relationships between models e.g. in the form of hierarchical decompositions, complex semantic relations spanning multiple modeling tools and repositories are not captured sufficiently, although this demand has already been identified in literature (Lippe et al. 2005; Boudjlida et al. 2005). Therefore a uniform documentation of the models and their relations is usually not practiced. The result of this is that the knowledge around the various semantic model relations such as “is derived from”, “details” or “implements” is only implicitly contained in the mental models of individual employees of an organization. Moreover, it is not amenable to machine processing. This causes manifold disadvantages; one of them is for example that the analysis and search of dependencies between models is not possible. Semantic wikis provide a potential solution to this problem. In general, semantic wikis extend wiki systems for collaborative content management with semantic technologies aiming at enhanced navigation, search and retrieval possibilities (Krotzsch et al. 2007, p. 1). Semantic wikis therefore provide the possibility of representing model relationships in an explicit and formal way by using concepts of a formal model such as an ontology.

Im Kontext produktbegleitender Dienstleistungen spielt zunehmend die prozessorientierte IT-Unterstützung als Wettbewerbsfaktor eine Rolle. Gerade bei Dienstleistungen, die an komplexen technischen Produkten erbracht werden, ist die korrekte, qualitativ hochwertige und dennoch kostengünstige Erbringung ein signifikantes Differenzierungsmerkmal gegenüber der Konkurrenz. Hierzu ist die stete Verfügbarkeit aktueller und korrekter Serviceinformationen unabdingbar. Mobile IT-Systeme für technische After-Sales-Dienstleistungen unterstützen diese Anforderung. Ein konkreter Anwendungsfall zeigt die Umsetzung in einer idealtypischen mehrstufigen Wertschöpfungspartnerschaft am Beispiel der Sanitär-, Heizungs- und Klimatechnik- (SHK- )Branche.

In business process management, decision situations are often characterized by fuzziness. This means that the decision premises are not available in the form of mathematic models or numeric values, but rather as fuzzy conditions, such as “low processing time” or “high quality”. This article will show how fuzzy conditions and vaguely formulated goals in business process models can be considered using the fuzzy set theory. This fuzzy extension of process modelling is carried out with the event-driven process chain.

A shortened tampon applicator of the telescoping tube type employs an ejector tube to store a tampon in its distal end and an outer tube disposed by a slip fit thereover to thus shorten the overall length of the tampon and applicator assembly. Directionally-locking inward flaps fixed within the distal end of said outer tube engage the distal end of the tampon stored in the ejector tube thus securing the latter relative to said outer tube while permitting only distal expulsion therefrom. The ejector tube preferably has inwardly biased flexible portions at its distal end which serve to catch behind the proximal end of the tampon. In the preferred version, the inwardly biased portions are unique undulations at the blunt distal end of the ejector tube.

Recent research has led to proposals for the integration of fuzzy based information and decision rules in business process models with use of concepts based on the fuzzy set theory. While the proposed Fuzzy EPCs provide an adequate method for conceptual representation of fuzzy business process models, the issue of exchanging and transforming such models, together with its enclosed executable components, with other dedicated information systems such as workflow management systems and fuzzy modeling tools has not been approached yet. As a first step in this direction, this paper proposes a machine-readable FuzzyEPC representation in XML based on the EPC Markup Language (EPML). We start with the formal Fuzzy-EPC syntax definition and introduce our extensions to EPML. At the same time, we highlight future application areas of the Fuzzy-EPC schema.

In business process management, decision situations are often characterized by fuzziness. This means that the decision premises are not available in the form of mathematic models or numeric values, but rather as fuzzy conditions, such as “low processing time” or “high quality”. This article will show how fuzzy conditions and vaguely formulated goals in business process models can be considered using the fuzzy set theory. This fuzzy-extension of process modeling is carried out with the event-driven process chain.

Im Geschaftsprozessmanagement sind Entscheidungssituationen haufig durch Unscharfe gepragt. Dies bedeutet, dass auch die jeweiligen Entscheidungspramissen nicht in Form mathematischer Modelle oder numerischer Werte vorliegen, sondern in Form unscharfer Bedingungen, wie z. B. „geringe Durchlaufzeit“ oder „hohe Qualitat“. Der vorliegende Beitrag zeigt, wie unscharfe Bedingungen und vage formulierte Zielvorstellungen mit Hilfe der Fuzzy-Set-Theorie in Geschaftsprozessmodellen berucksichtigt werden konnen. Diese Fuzzy-Erweiterung der Prozessmodellierung erfolgt am Beispiel der Ereignisgesteuerten Prozesskette. 1 Unscharfe im Geschaftsprozessmanagement Die Ziele gegenwartiger Business-Engineering-Projekte liegen in der Gestaltung der Geschaftsprozesse sowie in der Analyse der Anforderungen an deren IT-Unterstutzung unter Berucksichtigung von Unternehmensstrategien [OsWi03]. Die Prozessgestaltung muss dabei einem umfassenden Ansatz folgen, der sowohl die Planung und Kontrolle als auch die Steuerung, d. h. das Management, der betrieblichen Ablaufe umfasst [BeKR05]. Zur Unterstutzung eines systematischen Vorgehens bei der Prozessgestaltung hat sich die Modellierung als hilfreich erwiesen. Modellierungssprachen wie die Ereignisgesteuerte Prozesskette (EPK) [KeNS92] dienen als operationalisierter Ansatz zur Modellkonstruktion. Softwarewerkzeuge zur Geschaftsprozessmodellierung [BlSi06] konnen den Business Engineer durch Systemkomponenten zur Erhebung, Erstellung, Analyse und Simulation von Geschaftsprozessmodellen unterstutzen. Zur Erfassung und Verbesserung von Geschaftsprozessen, deren Generalisierung in Referenzmodellen sowie zur unternehmensspezifischen Anpassung im Customizing sind zahlreiche Konzepte erarbeitet worden, die situationsspezifische Problemstellungen betrachten. Viele Ansatze legen einen Schwerpunkt auf die nutzerfreundliche und intuitive Verwendbarkeit der Methoden, indem diese an menschliche Denkweisen angenahert werden. Dabei werden jedoch fur notwendige Entscheidungen die exakte Quantifizierung und Formalisierung der Entscheidungsregeln verlangt. Bei Geschafts-

As technical products become more complex, the related technical customer services also do. The required information to accomplish technical customer services are dynamic, complex and at the same time business critical for the success of the services. This chapter deals with the process-oriented integration of product development and service documentation for the support of technical customer services (TCS) in machine and plant construction, illustrated on the example of the heating, air conditioning and sanitary engineering (HAS) branch. Both using mobile application systems and creating a product service system can increase the efficiency of procedures in service provision. The development and provision of the product service system calls for an interdisciplinary perspective. The problem, as well as the solution on the basis of hybrid added value, the structure of the product service system, the IT-concept and the implementation of the service process modeling will be discussed in detail in this article. In conclusion, the concept presented here will be explained in a practical use case.