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

Kód výsledku v 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>

Výsledek na webu

<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>

Jazyk výsledku

angličtina

Název v původním jazyce

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

Popis výsledku v původním jazyce

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.

Název v anglickém jazyce

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

Popis výsledku anglicky

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.

Druh

J_SC - Článek v periodiku v databázi SCOPUS

CEP obor

—

OECD FORD obor

50204 - Business and management

Projekt

—

Návaznosti

S - Specificky vyzkum na vysokych skolach

Rok uplatnění

2018

Kód důvěrnosti údajů

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

Název periodika

Organizacija

ISSN

1318-5454

e-ISSN

—

Svazek periodika

51

Číslo periodika v rámci svazku

4

Stát vydavatele periodika

SI - Slovinská republika

Počet stran výsledku

16

Strana od-do

255-270

Kód UT WoS článku

—

EID výsledku v databázi Scopus

2-s2.0-85059575311