Title: A framework for enterprise engineering

Authors: Jan Hoogervorst

Addresses: Center for Organizational Design and Engineering (CODE), INSEC INOV, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Instituto Superior Tecnico, Technical University Lisbon, Portugal; Sogeti Netherlands B.V., The Netherlands

Abstract: Successfully implementing enterprise strategic initiatives appears a daunting task since the majority of initiatives fail. This paper submits that the Enterprise Engineering theory and methodology offers a fruitful approach for avoiding failure. Based on viewing the enterprise as a system, the discussed enterprise engineering framework presents three central notions: 1) Enterprise Ontology which concerns the implementation-independent essence of an enterprise; 2) Enterprise Architecture guiding coherent and consistent enterprise design that can be implemented; 3) Operational Rules that define the execution of enterprise activities. These elements of the enterprise engineering framework are clarified and illustrated using a case example.

Keywords: enterprise engineering; strategic enterprise success; organised complexity; enterprise design; enterprise ontology; enterprise architecture; operational rules; business rules.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIEM.2011.038381

International Journal of Internet and Enterprise Management, 2011 Vol.7 No.1, pp.5 - 40

Published online: 25 Apr 2015 *

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