Rossella Aiello

A HIERARCHICAL MEASUREMENT FRAMEWORK FOR THE EVALUATION OF AUTOMATED BUSINESS PROCESSES

The problem of performance evaluation of business processes supported by Workflow Management Systems is a recent research issue. In this paper we propose a measurement framework in which several aspects concerning the timing and working of a business process, either as a whole or in terms of its components, can be precisely quantified. Our approach is based on the workflow model introduced by the Workflow Management Coalition and introduces some fundamental measures from which a number of derived measures can be hierarchically obtained. The paper describes the basic structures and the primitive operators of the framework as well as the fundamental and derived measures. Techniques for the evaluation of complex processes are also discussed. The proposed framework is quite general and can be applied to research and commercial workflow management systems with relatively little implementation effort.

Managing Uncertainty in Complex Projects

The need for complex systems has grown in recent years to react to the different requirements arisen in an increasingly interconnected and interdependent environment. Examples range from air traffic control systems, systems managing transactions on the stock exchange or environmental monitoring systems. The increasing complexity of such systems brings to the higher complexity of project management activities, which requires the review of commonly used methodologies to provide a better response to expectations of success for the planned projects. In this work we present a method for project monitoring and control based on the idea of a project view: given an analysis dimension such as time, cost and quality, each participant in the project has its own view on the project execution. The unavoidable differences between the views of various stakeholders have been formalized in the function \(gap\) that can be interpreted as an inverse measure of the degree of consonance between two participants with respect to the dimension of considered analysis. The method can leverage on the consonance seeking among stakeholders as a reduction factor of project risks.

Statechart modeling of contractual disputes

The benefits of contract management can be usually observed in terms of ambiguity minimization, disputes avoidance and smooth completion of processes arising from contractual agreements. Neverthless, uncertainty still plays its role: contractors might not have detailed information on the objective to achieve, the realization context could be not fully identified, the assumptions made at contract signing were misleading. These are just few examples of threats that can undermine the successin the achievement of contractual goals opening the door to stakeholder disputes especially when complex projects and virtual enterprises are involved. In this paper we propose a statechart model of contract management activities that formalizes the main interaction among contractors. The model represents the three fundamental states of a contract life cycle: Preparation, Execution and Termination, and is taken as reference for the ordinary life cycle management activities. In particular, we deepen the problem of dispute management providing a detailed representation useful for the dispute avoidance, if needed through the support of a mediator. The model also provides a set of transition rules that formally specify the behaviour of a reactive system for the support of contract and dispute management.

The interaction type approach to relationships management

One important paradigm proposed in literature by the scientific community that advocates the viable system approach is the structure-system dichotomy for the capability to simplify the investigation of a phenomenon and recognize its scope and implications. The purpose of this paper is to provide a contribution to the debate which concerns the structure-system approach introducing the concept of interaction type as a bridge linking the relationship concept to that of interaction. The interaction type is first introduced in its simplest form using an UML class diagram that points out its role when the observer views changes from structure to system and from system to structure. Then, the recursive nature of interaction types is discussed in order to show how complex relationships, that involve more parties at several interaction levels, can be better represented and used. Finally, a model for the representation of transactions is proposed in which a transaction type can be interpreted as a particular case of interaction type and a transaction as an ordered set of interactions. Two case studies are presented in the paper; the first concerns an example of fund transfer and highlights how the interaction type hierarchy can be applied. The second case study is from the port community system of South Italy and shows how a clearance to enter or leave national waters can be described as “departure from” and “arrival to” interaction types.

3DRC: a novel technique in evaluating stakeholders project views

In recent years there has been a growth in size and complexity of the projects managed by public or private organizations. This leads to increased probability of project failures, frequently due to the difficulty and the ability to achieve the objectives such as on-time delivery, cost containment, expected quality achievement. In particular, one of the most common causes of project failure is the very high degree of uncertainty that affects the expected performance of the project, especially when different stakeholders with divergent aims and goals are involved in the project. In this paper we present a new visualization technique, called 3DRC, that addresses the prevention and proactive handling of the potential controversies among project stakeholders. The approach is based on the 3D radar charts, to allow easier and more immediate analysis and management of the project views giving a contribution in reducing the project uncertainty and, consequently, the risk of project failure.

Ontology based risk management

Risk management in several application domains is receiving increasing attention in the last years especially when the risk management must be pursued in a network made of interacting systems. The motivation is that although risk management models and techniques are mature enough to handle risk in the context of a single system, risk evaluation in the setting of a network of systems is much more difficult to model and manage. Because of the lack of awareness of risk, it is difficult to perceive risks propagation within the network of systems. On the other hand, the lack of shared goals and knowledge represents itself a risk, so that we need a good paradigm to organize and communicate information.