Aristomenis M. Macris

An ontology-based competency model for workflow activity assignment policies

Purpose – Assigning business process activities to agents (human or automated) for their performance or supervision is a critical issue in business process management. Role-based approaches are commonly used to specify work assignment policies, with roles defined as collections of capabilities and privileges required to perform job functions. The purpose of this paper is to address the activity assignment problem through a competency-based approach. In this context, an ontology-based competency model is developed to assist in identifying the competencies that exist in an organization and the competencies required, by workflow activities and in performing a competency gap analysis as a prerequisite for domain-specific user development through competency-based training. Design/methodology/approach – An approach for developing a business process activity assignment policy based on an ontology-based competency model is presented. This model is also used to define domain-specific training courses that enable users meet the competency requirements of process activities. In broad terms, the approach consists of the following steps: identification of the competencies required in order to perform the various activities involved in each business process and definition of roles based on these competencies; identification of the competencies acquired in the organization and assignment of users to roles; performance of competency gap analysis to identify the missing user competencies for role playing and identification of user development needs; and development of competency-based training scenarios intended to fill the user competency gaps. Findings – An experimental implementation of the ontology-based competency model proposed in the banking domain provided a fine-grained role structure that was based on the competencies required by business process activities, and a user-to-role assignment that closely matched the competencies required for role playing, and brought forward missing user competencies that pointed to required user training needs. Originality/value – The proposed ontology-based competency model fulfils the need for a sustained work assignment approach based on user roles. To this end, roles and users are defined as collections of required and acquired competencies, respectively. A novel approach based on ontology-based competency ontologies was also developed to fill required but missing user competencies.

Application of the Semantic Learning Approach in the Feasibility Studies Preparation Training Process

Abstract The present paper is concerned with an ontology-based knowledge network developed for the semantic representation of the feasibility studies preparation procedure. Specifically, a training scenario in feasibility studies and business plan preparing was built, using the CULTOS tools that are based on a self-contained reusable knowledge repository, which combines the ontology constructs with supportive multimedia objects. The proposed approach may have significant impact to enabling users participate actively in the feasibility studies preparing process since they are equipped with an appropriate tool for acquiring a clear and an in depth understanding of this process. Through the present application, it seems that the model could combine any existing multimedia material with ontology constructs, using knowledge-based multimedia authoring tools, in order to build user-training scenarios and satisfy specific training needs.

Enhancing Enterprise Resource Planning users' understanding through ontology-based training

An ERP system is a set of highly integrated and parametric applications, designed to fit to a variety of business. Because of this inherent complexity its implementation can be very demanding and the users involved must undertake extensive training, using sophisticated training materials. Existing training materials present major weaknesses, that the current paper aims to overcome, such as (1) semantic inconsistencies, (2) lack of explicit definition of constructs and (3) lack of knowledge reusability.This paper proposes a prototype model for the design and development of ERP training material, where both the multimedia objects used in training scenarios and the knowledge built into them are captured and fully reusable. The proposed approach helps trainees understand: (i) which are the building blocks of an ERP application, (ii) how they relate with each other and (iii) how they can be used in order to solve business specific problems.

Using ontology-based knowledge networks for user training in managing healthcare processes

The cooperative and collaborative nature of healthcare delivery requires active user participation in healthcare process design/redesign. Hence, there is a need to provide users with reusable, flexible, agile and adaptable training material in order to enable them instil their knowledge and expertise in healthcare process modelling and automation activities. This paper presents a prototype approach for designing user training material which is based on externalising domain knowledge in the form of ontology-based knowledge networks. The approach provides significant advantages to both designers (knowledge-content reusability and Semantic Web enabling) and users (semantic search, knowledge navigation and knowledge dissemination).

Creating Knowledge within a C-Business Context: A Customer Knowledge Management View

Recent advances of virtual networking technologies are gradually forcing companies to focus their knowledge management efforts to external knowledge resources, in order to complement their existing knowledge bases, find expertise, but also harness collective intelligence that is dynamically produced in the virtual environment. Access, exchange and co-creation of customer knowledge is of central importance for companies in this context, as customers who take advantage of Web 2.0 connectivity and social networking tools are gaining importance as competitive and cooperative knowledge actors in companies’ C-Business value networks. In this paper the authors attempt to cover important issues concerning customer knowledge flows between companies and customers through virtual interaction and the important factors that determine value-adding relationships of cooperation with customers for effective knowledge co-creation. They emphasize the need for the formation of a strategic co-opetition perspective for managing these relationships. In this direction, the authors present a theoretical framework that describes Customer Knowledge Management within a C-Business context.

Enterprise Resource Planning: An Applications' Training Aid Based on Semantic Web Principles

An integrated ERP system is an asset for any organization using it, but since its full deployment requires increased cooperation between business units, there is a need to provide the users involved with appropriate training material, so that they can effectively and efficiently exploit the business processes, which very often change in a dynamic business environment. Existing training materials fail to represent effectively the implicit business knowledge in order to help the users understand the underlying structures and relationships. This paper proposes a prototype model for the design and development of ERP training material, where both the multimedia objects used in training scenarios and the knowledge built into them are captured and fully reusable. The proposed approach helps trainees understand: (i) which are the building blocks of an ERP application, (ii) how they relate with each other and (iii) how they can be used in order to solve business specific problems.

Enhancing enterprise resource planning users' understanding through ontology-based training

An ERP system is a set of highly integrated and parametric applications, designed to fit to a variety of business. Because of this inherent complexity, its implementation can be very demanding and the users involved must undertake extensive training using sophisticated training materials. Existing training materials present major weaknesses that the current paper aims to overcome, such as: 1) semantic inconsistencies; 2) lack of explicit definition of constructs; 3) lack of knowledge reusability. This paper proposes a prototype model for the design and development of ERP training material, where both the multimedia objects used in training scenarios and the knowledge built into them are captured and fully reusable. The proposed approach helps trainees understand: 1) which are the building blocks of an ERP application; 2) how they relate with each other; 3) how they can be used in order to solve business specific problems.

Enhancing Users’ Participation in Business Process Modeling through Ontology-Based Training

Successful business process design requires active participation of users who are familiar with organizational activities and business process modelling concepts. Hence, there is a need to provide users with reusable, flexible, agile and adaptable training material in order to enable them instil their knowledge and expertise in business process design and automation activities. Knowledge reusability is of paramount importance in designing training material on process modelling since it enables users participate actively in process design/redesign activities stimulated by the changing business environment. This paper presents a prototype approach for the design and use of training material that provides significant advantages to both the designer (knowledge - content reusability and semantic web enabling) and the user (semantic search, knowledge navigation and knowledge dissemination). The approach is based on externalizing domain knowledge in the form of ontology-based knowledge networks (i.e. training scenarios serving specific training needs) so that it is made reusable.

Ontology-Based Gap Analysis for Technology Selection: A Knowledge Management Framework for the Support of Equipment Purchasing Processes

Technology selection decisions such as equipment purchasing and supplier selection are decisions of strategic importance to companies. The nature of these decisions usually is complex, unstructured and thus, difficult to be captured in a way that will be efficiently reusable. Knowledge reusability is of paramount importance since it enables users participate actively in process design/redesign activities stimulated by the changing technology selection environment. This paper addresses the technology selection problem through an ontology-based approach that captures and makes reusable the equipment purchasing process and assists in identifying (a) the specifications requested by the users’ organization, (b) those offered by various candidate vendors’ organizations and (c) in performing specifications gap analysis as a prerequisite for effective and efficient technology selection. This approach has practical appeal, operational simplicity, and the potential for both immediate and long-term strategic impact. An example from the iron and steel industry is also presented to illustrate the approach.