Is there a Need for Agent-based Modelling and Simulation in Business Process Management?

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F47813059%3A19520%2F18%3A00011061" target="_blank" >RIV/47813059:19520/18:00011061 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="http://organizacija.fov.uni-mb.si/index.php/organizacija/article/view/897/1237" target="_blank" >http://organizacija.fov.uni-mb.si/index.php/organizacija/article/view/897/1237</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/orga-2018-0019" target="_blank" >10.2478/orga-2018-0019</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Is there a Need for Agent-based Modelling and Simulation in Business Process Management?

Original language description

Background and Purpose: Agent-based modelling and simulation (ABS) is growing in many areas like, e.g., management, social and computer sciences. However, the similar trend does not seem to occur within the field of business process management (BPM), even though simulation approaches like discrete event simulation or system dynamics are well established and widely used. Thus, in our paper we investigate the advantages and disadvantages of agent-based modelling and simulation in the field of BPM in simulation experiments. Design/Methodology/Approach: In our research, we investigate if there is a necessity for ABS in the field of BPM with our own simulation experiments to compare traditional and ABS models. For this purpose, we use simulation framework MAREA, which is a simulation environment with integrated ERP system. Our model is a complex system of a trading company selling computer cables. For the verification of our model, we use automated process discovery techniques. Results: I n our simulations, we investigated the impact of changes in resources' behavior on the outcome of company's order to cash process (O2C). Simulations experiments demonstrated that even small changes might have statistically significant effect on outcomes of the processes and decisions based on such outcomes. Simulation experiments also demonstrated that the impact of randomly distributed fluctuations of well-being have a diminishing tendency with the increasing number of sales representatives involved in the process. Conclusions: Our research revealed several advantages and disadvantages of using ABS in business process modelling. However, as we show, many of them were at least partially addressed in the recent years. Thus, we believe that ABS will get more attention in the field of BPM similarly to other fields like, e.g., social sciences. We suggested areas in BPM simulations, e.g., modelling of resources, be it human or technological resources, where there is a need for ABS.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

J_SC - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the SCOPUS database

CEP classification

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OECD FORD branch

50204 - Business and management

Project

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Continuities

S - Specificky vyzkum na vysokych skolach

Publication year

2018

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Organizacija

ISSN

1318-5454

e-ISSN

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Volume of the periodical

51

Issue of the periodical within the volume

4

Country of publishing house

SI - SLOVENIA

Number of pages

16

Pages from-to

255-270

UT code for WoS article

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EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-85059575311