Mo Mansouri

A framework for investigation into extended enterprise resilience

This article proposes a framework for investigation into ‘extended enterprise resilience’ based on the key attributes of enterprise resilience in the context of extended enterprises. Such attributes, namely agility, flexibility, adaptability and connectivity, are frequently defined as supporting attributes of enterprise resilience, but the issue is how they can be more effectively applied to extended enterprises. The role of information technology in assisting connectivity and collaboration is frequently recognised as contributing to resilience on all levels, and will likewise be employed on the level of extended enterprise systems. The proposed framework is based on the expanded application of two primary enablers of enterprise resilience: (i) the capability of an enterprise to connect systems, people, processes and information in a way that allows enterprise to become more connected and responsive to the dynamics of its environment, stakeholders and competitors; (ii) the alignment of information technology with business goals. The former requires inter- and intra-level interoperability and integration within the extended enterprises, and the latter requires modelling of the underlying technology infrastructure and creation of a consolidated view of, and access to, all available resources in the extended enterprises that can be attained by well-defined enterprise architecture.

A framework for assessing resiliency of maritime transportation systems

Resiliency can be defined as the ability of the system to bounce back after a shock and return to its normal value delivery levels. In maritime transportation systems (MTS), manmade and natural disruptions reduce the capacity of ports to send and receive goods, which can result in significant negative socio-economic impacts. Implementing resiliency in these systems improves their ability to cope with disruptions hence minimising losses. This paper proposes several schemes that improve resiliency by reducing the systems vulnerability and increasing its adaptive capacity. The impact of the schemes on the systems resiliency metrics are evaluated by applying the methodology of the Networked Infrastructure Resiliency Assessment framework. The framework consists of three stages in which a network model is extracted from the physical network, the resiliency metrics are identified and the system is modelled using network optimisation techniques and a system dynamics model. The disruptions are modelled by reducing the capacity of a port to send and receive goods. Three MTS resiliency metrics are identified, namely tonnage resiliency, time resiliency and cost resiliency. The presented case study assesses resiliency schemes, such as Diversity, Collaboration and Resource Allocation on the three resiliency metrics.

Perspectives on measuring enterprise resilience

The new paradigm, known as “resilience engineering”, emphasizes the importance of measuring resilience and suggests the development of methodologies to analyze and prepare to improve the resilience of enterprises. In this paper we review existing resilience measurement methodologies, and propose new modes of measurement. We define enterprise resilience as the capacity to decrease vulnerability, the ability to change and adapt, and the ability to recover quickly from disruption. Using this definition, we identify metrics which evaluate, more specifically: (1) an enterprises capability to decrease its level of vulnerability to expected and unexpected events, (2) its ability to change itself and adapt to changing environment; (3) its ability to recover in the least possible time in case of a disruptive event. Based on the discussed enterprise resilience metrics, we use several examples and evaluate a set of illustrative responses to common disruptions.

Conceptual Modeling of the Impact of Smart Cities on Household Energy Consumption

Abstract Smart cities provide citizens with information on various urban services and allow them to track the impact of their resource consumption on the overall sustainability of their city. The premise of smart cities is that with improved access to information on resource consumption, residents make better use of those resources, resulting in increased sustainability of the city. This paper explores the influence of the smart city technologies on individuals’ resource consumption behavior, in particular on energy consumption, aiming at achieving environmentally sustainable development. This approach combines systems thinking with existing social science theories, such as cognitive and learning theories, to explore the impact of smart city information on individual decision-making and behavioral change. Using a CLIOS (complex, large-scale, interconnected, open, and sociotechnical) model, a conceptual soft systems model, the paper explores the impact of smart city technologies on behavioral change of households with regards to energy consumption.

A Risk Management-based Decision Analysis Framework for resilience in Maritime Infrastructure and Transportation Systems

This research is an effort to develop a Risk Management-based Decision Analysis (RMDA) Framework based on the common fundamental elements that define the nature of resilience in Maritime Infrastructure and Transportation Systems (MITS). While developing a systematic process for making strategic and investment decisions, RMDA enables the decision-makers to identify, analyze, and prioritize risks involved in MITS operations; to define ways for risk mitigation, plan for contingencies, and devise mechanisms for continuously monitoring and controlling risk factors and threats to the system. Our suggested RMDA framework utilizes a Decision Tree Analysis (DTA) methodology for assessing the cost-effectiveness of the devised strategies.

Applications of systems thinking for resilience study in Maritime Transportation System of Systems

Maritime Transportation System (MTS) is a critical infrastructure system that enables economic activity through transferring goods between national and international destinations. This research is an effort to define and view MTS as a System of Systems (SoS) and apply Systems Thinking to understand, engineer, analyze, and govern it in a more effective and efficient way. We define Maritime Transportation System of Systems (MTSoS) as an integration of interdependent constituent systems and apply systemic tools such as Systemigrams to study critical properties of the system such as resilience and security through understanding its systemic interrelationships more effectively. A variety of systems engineering models have been applied to MTS. However, it is necessary to form a structured approach and develop new systemic toolsets that enables the stakeholders to view interdependencies and interconnections among the constituent systems of MTSoS.

Maritime Transportation System of Systems management framework: a System of Systems Engineering approach

This research develops an engineering approach that brings meaning to the context of Maritime Transportation System of Systems (MTSoS) and increases understanding of how to govern it more effectively. We suppose that: System of Systems (SoS) can be identified by its distinguishing characteristics; Maritime Transportation Systems (MTS) can be considered as a SoS in which constituencies seek their own goals; and its integrated objective is to transfer goods safely and efficiently. Based on these premises, we present our management framework. The proposed framework enables us to engineer and manage MTS more effectively from a System of Systems Engineering (SoSE) perspective.

Measuring Knowledge Management/Knowledge Sharing KM/KS Efficiency and Effectiveness in Enterprise Networks

Knowledge Management KM is critical in ensuring process efficiency, outcome effectiveness and improved organizational memory for the modern day business enterprises. Knowledge Sharing KS is fast becoming a rapidly growing area of interest in the domain of knowledge management. The purpose of this paper is to enlist a set of generalized metrics that can be used to evaluate the efficiency and the effectiveness of knowledge sharing in an enterprise network. The metrics proposed in this research are those that can be readily measured by various types of enterprise knowledge sharing systems, and link usage information to organizational outputs. The paper uses an illustrative case example of how an enterprise might make use of the metrics in measuring the efficiency and effectiveness of its knowledge sharing system.

A systemic approach to governance in extended enterprise systems

This paper is an effort to introduce Enterprise Systems Governance (ESG) as a new systemic approach to governance within the System of Systems (SoS) environment. The proposed interdisciplinary approach combines theories of complexity and social sciences with those developed for systems and networks to: theorize problems of Extended Enterprise Systems (EES); explore how they are governed; and study how their governance structure strives for effectiveness over time. ESG adopts qualitative insights from complexity theories fundamentals, organizational behavior studies, systems thinking tools, and social sciences, and supports them with quantitative procedures and techniques such as agent-based modeling, social network analysis, dynamic systems analysis, and game theory to create new set of methodologies, tailored for governing EES. We believe that ESG can be expanded to become a new field of science that will address the need for a fundamental understanding of how organizational architectures evolve around technological systems and processes to generate complex network-based structures. It will also offer effective and holistic solutions to resolve major challenges regarding the governance of socio-technological and large-scale extended enterprises, SoS, and adaptive complex systems, such as the financial system as well as development programs and infrastructure systems.

A framework for enterprise resilience using service oriented architecture approach

This paper proposes a framework to create enterprise resilience using service oriented architecture approach (SOA). The proposed framework is based on two enablers of enterprise resilience: i) the capability of an enterprise to connect systems, people, processes, and information in a way that allows enterprise to become more connected and responsive to the dynamics of its environment, stakeholders, and competitors; ii) the alignment of information technology and business goals. The former requires inter and intra- enterprise level interoperability and integration, and the latter requires simplification of the underlying technology infrastructure and creation of a consolidated view of, and access to, all available resources in the enterprise that can be attained by well-defined enterprise architecture. Based on these two key enablers, we outline a theoretical model which explains how SOA can help in creating enterprise resilience. This model defines enterprise resilience as a function of enterprise flexibility, adaptability, agility, and efficiency.