Hubert Oesterle

Toward a Decision Model for Master Data Application Architecture

Requirements such as integrated view of the customer or global business process integration make enterprise wide management of master data a prerequisite for achieving business goals. The master data application architecture, as a part of enterprise master data management, plays a critical role in enterprises. Choosing the right master data application architecture is a controversial subject in many enterprises. Unfortunately, the current state of the art in research does not provide sufficient guidance for enterprises dealing with this subject. The paper aims at overcoming this gap in research by presenting a decision model for supporting enterprises in the decision-making process regarding the choice of the right master data application architecture. To design the model, Multiple-Criteria Decision Analysis and Design Science Research Methodology were applied.

An Engineering Approach to Develop Business Networks

In order to attain Business Networking goals, such as the simple and fast exchange of transactions, increased customer care or reduced inventories, business partners have to be convinced about new ideas, new business processes among them and new (information) systems. For implementation to be successful, a variety of decisions will have to be taken concerning strategy, process and systems. Business Networking projects require a methodical approach completely different from that of traditional ERP implementations. The proposed method therefore guides managers in designing and implementing cooperation-intensive business networks. It covers aspects from strategy to implementation and follows the principles of method engineering. The ‘Woodbridge’ -Cases illustrates the method in practice.

Toward a Functional Reference Model for Business Rules Management

Business rules can be crucial to an organizations business operations. In view of a growing number of internal and external challenges (such as compliance with regulations, the need for organizational agility, or the need to retain organizational knowledge), organizations increasingly are forced to actively manage their business rules in order to stay successful. However, business rules management (BRM) is an organizational task that cannot be encountered simply by implementing a software system. The paper describes the design process toward a functional reference model for business rules management. The model provides three perspectives on tasks and functions to successfully manage business rules. Practitioners may use the model to establish BRM in their organizations, facilitate communication between business and IT, and evaluate software solutions for BRM. From a scientific perspective, the model is a design artifact, representing a theory for designing and developing information systems with the objective of managing business rules.

Business oder Life Engineering

ZusammenfassungDie Digitalisierung der Konsumentenwelt bringt einen Paradigmenwechsel für Unternehmen: Erfolgreiche digitale Dienste entstehen aus Sicht der Lebensbereiche von Konsumenten; die Leistungserstellung im Unternehmen leitet sich daraus ab. Die Digitalisierung der Welt legt uns jedoch nahe, über einen zweiten Paradigmenwechsel nachzudenken, also nicht nur dem Paradigma der Konsumentenzentrierung aus Sicht des Geschäftserfolgs, sondern auch dem Paradigma der Lebensqualität nachzuleben. Die Konsequenz aus diesem Paradigmenwechsel wäre eine Disziplin des Life Engineering, nicht anstatt, sondern zusätzlich zum Business Engineering, das weiterhin für Effizienz in der Befriedigung der Bedürfnisse sorgen muss. Life Engineering beschäftigt sich mit der Lebensqualität, den Bedürfnissen und den Möglichkeiten zu deren Befriedigung sowie dem Beitrag der digitalen Services. Erste Ansätze des Life Engineerings werden am Beispiel eines digitalen Dorfes aus dem Forschungsprojekt „Independent Living“ veranschaulicht. Aus den bisherigen Erkenntnissen, lässt sich eine Umsetzungs- und Forschungsagenda ableiten. Ob die Wirtschaftsinformatik sie aufgreift, bleibt abzuwarten.