Understanding the effects of e-business on business processes, a simulation approach

This thesis defines a new approach to the analysis of the effect of e-business on business processes, utilising simulation as evaluation tool. This research was focused on answering five research questions about the suitability of simulation in this context, the role of static modelling and generic business processes, the identification of patterns for e-business activities and how to operationalise these patterns into components in simulation software, as well as how to use these components. Requirements for modelling of e-business processes were identified and documented. Pilot cases studies proved the potential of simulation for studying e-business processes (Feasibility). Generic e-business activities were derived and classified from the literature and case studies in order to fill gaps identified in existent process models. Re-usable simulation components are proposed as a result of the unique combination of simulation and e-activities in order to make simulation modelling of e-business easier. The components were tested in industrial case studies and quasi-experiments with end users for feasibility, usability and usefulness. Results show that the components' approach is feasible, that having re-usable components promotes a better analysis, (usefulness) and that it is easy to build models using the components (usability). The theoretical novelty of this research resides in bringing together three areas of study: ebusiness, simulation and business processes to analyse e-business implementations. The research contributes to the knowledge of components and re-use theory in simulation by proposing a new approach to component development, operationalisation and analysis of the degree of granularity required for these components. From a practical point of view, this research provides companies with an easier and more complete way of analysing e-business processes, breaking the barrier for the use of simulation, speeding up model building of eprocesses and getting a better understanding of the dynamics of e-processes. Future work in the area will include extending the component approach to supply chains and inter-company transactions.This thesis defines a new approach to the analysis of the effect of e-business on business processes, utilising simulation as evaluation tool. This research was focused on answering five research questions about the suitability of simulation in this context, the role of static modelling and generic business processes, the identification of patterns for e-business activities and how to operationalise these patterns into components in simulation software, as well as how to use these components. Requirements for modelling of e-business processes were identified and documented. Pilot cases studies proved the potential of simulation for studying e-business processes (Feasibility). Generic e-business activities were derived and classified from the literature and case studies in order to fill gaps identified in existent process models. Re-usable simulation components are proposed as a result of the unique combination of simulation and e-activities in order to make simulation modelling of e-business easier. The components were tested in industrial case studies and quasi-experiments with end users for feasibility, usability and usefulness. Results show that the components' approach is feasible, that having re-usable components promotes a better analysis, (usefulness) and that it is easy to build models using the components (usability). The theoretical novelty of this research resides in bringing together three areas of study: ebusiness, simulation and business processes to analyse e-business implementations. The research contributes to the knowledge of components and re-use theory in simulation by proposing a new approach to component development, operationalisation and analysis of the degree of granularity required for these components. From a practical point of view, this research provides companies with an easier and more complete way of analysing e-business processes, breaking the barrier for the use of simulation, speeding up model building of eprocesses and getting a better understanding of the dynamics of e-processes. Future work in the area will include extending the component approach to supply chains and inter-company transactions