The research in this thesis relates to the use of mathematical models and ièigputer-based modelling tools for supporting the Logistics Strategy Planning (LSP) process. conceptual modelling framework and a computer-based modelling and decision support system are developed to address practical LSP problems and improve the level of decision support currently reported. A LSP process T is described, its h complexity recognised, e and the problem domain defined. The evolution of the logistics strategy concept is addressed and defined a integrating procurement, production and distribution aspects. The need for decision support is also identified. A comprehensive review of models and modelling techniques from Management Science / Operations Research (MS/OR), and computer based tools in the LSP context is carried out. The appropriateness of the various models and types of computer tools is assessed. Gaps and drawbacks in current approaches to LSP are also identified. This revealed that past efforts have been directed towards producing more efficient solving techniques and tools for limited aspects of LSP, rather than developing models and tools that could address more realistic problems, recognising a integrated view of LSP. Hence, current approaches to LSP are fragmented in their handling of the procurement, production and distribution aspects. A conceptual modelling framework is proposed to support the LSP process. It includes a planning process, the logistics elements and key drivers required to define a model/representation of the LSP problem, and a selection of models/techniques to address various classes of LSP (sub-) problems. The framework provides a integrated view of all elements involved and contributes to formalise the knowledge necessary to address LSP problems. A modelling and decision support system is developed in order to demonstrate the framework and assess the approach here proposed to address practical LSP studies. STRATOVISION combines Visual Interactive Modelling (VIM) and Knowledge-Based (KB) techniques with "traditional" MS/OR models and modelling techniques. Additionally, the system implements a problem centred approach, combining various MS/OR solving techniques (e.g. simulation, heuristics and optimisation) into a unique modelling environment. A comparative analysis and discussion of functionality supports the view that STRATOVISION overcomes most limitations found with other modelling systems and provides better functionality to address LSP problems. The discussion covers the modelling phase, the options generation and the detailed evaluation of scenarios. Special emphasis is given both to the use of the Visual Interactive ( I) functionality for modelling and problem solving, and to the use of models/techniques included in STRATOVISION's model base. Several case studies are used to illustrate STRATOVISION's integrated approach to LSP and validate the model design. Comparison with fragmented approaches to LSP is carried out and the use of STRATOVISION in practical LSP studies including procurement, production and distribution decisions is reported. The analysis provides supporting evidence of the benefits achieved by using STRATOVISION's integrated approach to LSP. Finally, contributions of the approach are discussed and areas of further work pointed out.

In this thesis, we present a model that aims to support business activities conducted through a network of collaborations that generates value in different, mutually beneficial, ways for the participating organisations. Particularly, we propose a practical model for the theoretical representation of Digital Ecosystems, which supports four properties of `Interaction', `Balance', `Loose Coupling' and `Self-organisation'. The interaction model in this distributed environment should satisfy the long-running nature of business activities in a loosely coupled manner. The proposed model for distributed transactions focuses on the dependencies that arise due to the sharing of data within a transaction or the release of partial results and shows how these can be handled using a flexible lock scheme and using an extended log mechanism. The conceptual agent-based design presents a distributed coordination model which handles long-term business transactions. The temporary virtual networks formed by long-term business transactions that involve the execution of multiple services from different providers are used as the building blocks for an underlying scale-free business network. It is shown how these local interactions, which are not governed by a single organisation, give rise to a fully distributed networked architecture that reflects the dynamics of businessp rocessesin a loosely coupled manner when it respectsl ocal autonomy. An optimised recovery mechanism not only provides a forward recovery method for avoiding the (costly) full recovery procedure, but also is isolated from knowledge of the local state of participants and so respects their local autonomy. In order to provide a sustainable environment with high connectivity between participants of a digital ecosystem, the architectural design is based on dynamically formed permanent clusters of nodes; the so-called Virtual Super Peers (VSPs). This results in a topology that is highly resilient to failures. These failures can be categorised from purely transactional breakdowns to physical network disconnections. The self-recovery method is designed using time-out locks, which can save the consistency of the interaction model, and high connectivity and the self-organising method of creating Virtual Super Peers maintains the stability of the environment. Furthermore, the proposed architecture is capable of reconfiguring itself to adapt to the usage that is being made of it and respond to global failures of conceptual hubs or coordinators. This fosters an environment where business communities can evolve to meet emerging business opportunities and achieve sustainable growth within a digital ecosystem.

Simulation has long been recognised as a powerful technique for analysing complex systems which are mathematically intractable. The objectives of simulation experiments are essentially of two types, namely for investigative and optimisation purposes. As far as the latter is concerned, analysts essentially aim to find the combination of input parameters to the system being investigated so as to optimise some performance measures. The discovery of a 'good' combination of input parameters frequently involves a long and tedious trial and error process which is often computationally demanding. This thesis concerns the automation of the process. In particular, various search algorithms are developed within the framework of local search. These algorithms are used to automatically search for 'promising', or even optimal, parameter settings where the function to be optimised is the output of a simulation model. An important distinction between the work described in this thesis and the more conventional use of local search lies in the nature of the cost function. While the conventional application of local search mainly focuses on problems with a deterministic cost function, this work considers problems in which the cost function is subject to some stochastic infrastructure. To ensure a successful implementation of local search to such problems, it is crucial that the stochastic variation in the cost function is explicitly taken into account. Various strategies to achieve this end are identified and ways in which they can be incorporated into the standard acceptance criteria of local search algorithms are described.

This thesis looks at <I>business models </I>used for decision-making purposes in the context of Outsourcing evaluation and Business Process Re-engineering (BPR). Many techniques used in such a context have their roots in <I>software engineering. </I>This makes their use in the above context problematical, as they either do not integrate information systems with the organisation, or derive an ideal information systems structure from the organisational one rather than integrating the existing structures. In the first part of this thesis, trends in Information Technology as well as phenomena such as Outsourcing and BPR are examined. In the second part, business models are defined, a set of criteria for their evaluation is developed and justified, and existing approaches are measured against these criteria. Following this, an alternative approach, called the Open Business Model (OBM), is developed and specified in detail. The description includes the <I>elements </I>used in the technique, the <I>meta-model </I>(which defines these elements and their relationships with each other), the <I>action model </I>(describing how to apply the method), and a list of recommendations on how to analyse the results of any analysis on which the method is applied to find potential areas for improvement. In the third part, a practical application of the OBM is conducted. The results of a large case study, done in co-operation with the DVLA in Swansea, are presented. The findings show that the OBM is suitable for its application target, and that its unique features, most notably the possibility to add and change the elements used and aspects covered in the light of new requirements, make it an appropriate approach to practical business modelling problems. Some ideas for further research are also outlined.

<i>Business modelling</i> methods provide a structural framework to help capture the knowledge about an enterprise which forms the basis for targeted analysis and subsequent reshaping of that enterprise. Although the potential benefits that can be obtained by applying these methods have convinced many businesses to use them, the modellers are faced with a key problem: how to ensure the quality of the model they build. The difficulty is partly rooted in the fact that large parts of these methods are informal. A possible solution to this problem are "heavy-weighted" formal methods, which can be helpful in providing precision and quality assurance for such models. They are, however, rarely practised, because of the prohibitively large cost implied when using them, and due to the fact that the end product, i.e. the description of the model, is often so complicated that it cannot easily be understood without specific professional training first. As a more practical answer to the problem, a formal language based on a "light-weighted" approach and for use with an informal business modelling method has been developed. The concrete example used in this dissertation is IBM's <i>Business System Development Method (BSDM).</i> The role of the formal notation in this case is not to provide a formal semantics for the given method, but to provide a mechanism for sharing the information supplied at different modelling stages and for automated analysis of the model using logic. Based on the formal language, a layered modelling framework for capturing the knowledge of the business modelling method as well as the models themselves has been proposed. The original method (BSDM) has been extended to include a model execution phase. This provides the necessary computational platform for automatic verification and validation facilities to support the <i>plan-build-test-refine</i> model development lifecycle. Gradual accumulation of model building knowledge is achieved through <i>Case-Based Reasoning</i> techniques leading to improved modelling guidance over time.

The performance measurement revolution started in the late 1970s with the dissatisfaction of traditional backward looking accounting systems. Since then the literature in this field is emerging. Most of the focus was on designing performance measurement systems, with few studies illustrating the issues in implementing and using performance measurement systems. However there was no solid research reported in literature that demonstrated the impacts of performance measurement when implemented and used with appropriate IT support. In this research, initial evidence was gathered from four companies where IT-supported performance measurement system (IT-PMS) made positive impact on management and business. The findings obtained from these studies were grounded in theory and formed the basis for creating a set of predictions on management and business implications (dependent variables) and pre-conditions, which are the factors that effect the implications (semidependent variables). The objectives of this research were to prove predictions and preconditions as well as to build relationships between IT-PMS implementation (independent variables), predictions and pre-conditions. In order to achieve the research objectives, true experiments with the researcher as facilitator / personal observer (of the experiment) was considered to be essential. It was also essential to have a degree of control by the researcher to vary these independent variables and study their impact on dependent and semi-dependent variables. This strongly urged the researcher to adopt action research as the main research domain, by implementing IT-PMS at four companies and monitoring its impact. Finally, the research demonstrated that appropriately designed performance measurement systems, if supported through appropriate IT platforms and driven by senior management, appropriately implemented and used will result in positive management and business implications such as: facilitating more pro-active management style, increasing positive behaviour such as focusing on facts, communication, empowerment and teamwork, creating complete transparency and visibility of information, identifying weak areas of the business and promoting continuous improvement.

No description available.

Engineering change originating from rework or from changed requirements is a significant part of any product development programme. The thesis then presents a framework to create a model which captures the four domains of requirements, functions, components/subsystems and detailed design process and subsequently shows how the resulting models could be used to make cross-domain models by creating the AutoBell (product of Digital Research Labs) model. Elements are linked within and across these four domains via a systematic approach, which allows representation of key aspects of designers’ knowledge regarding the change process. A laboratory experiment is also conducted to evaluate the framework for structuring information where modellers were asked to model using this framework. This experiment provides interesting insights into the thinking of designers and the effectiveness of the framework for modelling products. In particular, the dissertation shows how changes in requirements can be viewed as propagating through these four layers to cause rework in the design process, and how a traceability approach based on the model can be used to help reason about the cost of implementing a given requirement change. This technique is implemented in a software tool which is applied to the management change cases of the AutoBell. The change management support approach is separately evaluated through a series of student experiment which were divided into two groups to test the usability and utility of the approach and the tool. This dissertation also reflects on the importance of using change management methods with the project management methods. A simulation approach is developed which is used with the Gantt charges to devise a schedule for managing changes through the project. The initial results of the simulation experiments show that a schedule can be made where by packaging change requests and executing them after a fixed interval will reduce the delay in project lead time.

No description available.

The twenty-first century business environment is extremely competitive and challenging. The winners in this fast paced dynamic environment are the ones which co-evolve all of their resources in a more effective and innovative way. Needless to say, information technology (IT) becomes an inevitable part of organisations in order to facilitate their transformation to be more adaptive and innovative. Unfortunately, large amount of resources are being invested in IT systems; however, they do not provide the expected benefits for several reasons. Firstly, organisations are forced to change their business practice frequently, and these changes are often not applied in their IT systems. Therefore, IT systems, which were once satisfactory, become inadequate, in-time obsolete and sometimes the bottleneck of business activities. Moreover, organisations utilise IT systems without carefully considering their effects on other parts of the organisation. Therefore, the challenge is to organically co-design IT with business operation in order to improve the overall performance of the organisation. Co-design of business and IT systems is a field that is concerned with gathering and processing knowledge from different parts of an organisation to transform business processes and IT systems simultaneously. This research project aims to expand the co- design theory and develop a co-design method that will offer practical solutions for aligning business processes and IT systems. Organisational semiotics is the theoretical and methodological foundation of this research. The proposed co-design method, called Co- BITS, is organised in three layers; informal, formal, and technical, inspired by the organisational onion from organisational semiotics tools. Co-BITS method starts by identifying the problem in hand through involving relevant stakeholders from different parts of the organisation. Then, related processes and activities (the "as-is" situation) are studied and the desired solutions (the "to-be" situation) are proposed. Consequently, the relevant IT systems are examined to identify whether they will support the target situation. Finally, if changes need to be introduced it will be discussed with relevant stakeholders and proper actions will be taken. This research adopts the radical subjectivist paradigm and believes that the drivers of changes and their solutions are directly influenced by the stakeholders' views. Multiple case study approach is employed as the research method in order to evaluate and validate Co-BITS method; two case studies have been conducted in which the method has been applied to the analysis and design of proposed changes in business and IT systems. The results are qualitatively analysed and justified in this thesis. Moreover, the outcomes and recommendations have been presented to the companies for feedback and evaluation. The outcomes proved that Co-BITS can be used as a solution for co-designing business and IT systems as simultaneously as possible and can lessen the gap between these two systems in the occurrence of change. Moreover, the outcome of valuation shows more promising benefits for medium to large size organisations.