Keynote at the 2011 CONFENIS conference in Aalborg, DK, October 17th, 2011.

1. Semantic Enterprise Architecture
Michael zur Muehlen, Ph.D.
Stevens Institute of Technology
Howe School of Technology Management
Center for Business Process Innovation
Hoboken, New Jersey
Michael.zurMuehlen@stevens.edu
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2. “Vision without execution is hallucination”
Thomas Alva Edison
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3. A Story in 3 Parts
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4. “If it doesn’t make
three people angry,
it is not a process”
Beyond Reengineering (Michael Hammer, 1996)
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5. Business as a System
Enterprise
Management System
Management
Planning and
Mgt. Information Information
Control System
System
Custo-
Directive
Suppliers
Reporting
mers
Operational System
Operational Information System
Goods and Services
Money
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6. “All models are wrong,
some are useful”George P.E. Box
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7. Why Model?
predict
guide
explain constrain
past present future
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8. What are Good Models?
Correct Relevant Economical
Model
Quality
Systematically
Clear Comparable
Designed
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Source: Becker, Rosemann, von Uthmann

9. 9
Source: xkcd.com

10. Understanding Process Modeling
BPMN is a standard notation for business processes,
but it is complex (50+ symbols)
Questions:
How expressive is BPMN in theory?
Which parts of BPMN are used in practice?
Which parts of BPMN should be used in practice?

11. Which BPMN
Modeling subset do people
Practice use?
Δ = untapped potential
Δ = skill deficit
OR unnecessary features
How should you
What can BPMN
use BPMN?
express?
BPMN BPMN Best
Features Practice
Δ = standard design flaws
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12. Normal Flow
Task
End Event
Start Event / Event
Pool
Data-Based XOR
Start Message
Text Annotation
Message Flow
Parallel Fork/Join
Lanes
Gateway
Sub-Process (Collapsed)
Association
Data Object
Intermediate Timer
Intermediate Message
End Terminate
Sub-Process (Expanded)
End Link
Default Flow
Inclusive Decision/Merge
Activity Looping
Exception Task
Start Link
End Message
End Exception
Complex Decision/Merge
Event-Based XOR
Multiple Instance
Group
Transaction
Intermediate Event
End Cancel
Compensation
Intermediate Compensation
Conditional Flow
Exception Flow
Intermediate Link
Start Timer
Off-page connector
Start Rule
Intermediate Rule
Intermediate Multiple
End Compensation
Start Multiple
Intermediate Exception source: zur Muehlen, Recker (2007)
Intermediate Cancel
End Multiple
Compensation Association 12

13. How to Improve a Standard
Engage Issue BPMN
Analyze Define BPMN BPMN 2.0 w/
BPMN Use Subset Standards Conformance
Body Classes
2007 2008 2009 2010
Add BPMN
Develop Issue Policy
Develop 2.0 to
BPMN 2.0 Memo
Skilled Enterprise
training mandating
Workforce Standards
program BPMN 2.0 Use
Registry
While keeping the vendor community continually informed...
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14. enterprise architecture
|ˈentəәrˌprīz ˈärkiˌtekCHəәr|
Terminology and composition of enterprise
components, their relationships with the
external environment, and the guiding
principles for the analysis, design, and
evolution of an enterprise.
Source: Wikipedia
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15. Why Enterprise Architecture?
To Understand
Analyze what already exist
Assess what will be
Main purpose: People Integration/Conversation
To Build
Design what will be within today’s constraints
Set objectives and constraints for detailed speci cations
Main purpose: Instruction/Guideline
To Verify
Provide a framework for others
Evaluate current practice against existing guidelines
Main purpose: Compliance/Control 15

16. Enterprise Architecture is primarily about
People talking to each other...
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17. ...so we can build
Systems and Services
that talk to each other
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18. Business as a System
Enterprise
Management System
Management
Planning and
Mgt. Information Information
Control System
System
Custo-
Directive
Suppliers
Reporting
mers
Operational System
Operational Information System
Goods and Services
Money
18

19. 19

20. 20

21. Business as a System
Enterprise
Management System
2 Management
Planning and Problem:
Mgt. Information Information
Control SystemInformation Overload
System
3 1 Custo-
Directive
Suppliers Problem: Problem:
Reporting
mers
Decision Quality Information Quality
Operational System
Operational Information System
Goods and Services
Money
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