Business process modelling using ARIS: process architecture
| Date | 14 March 2017 |
| Pages | 88-107 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/LM-05-2016-0042 |
| Published date | 14 March 2017 |
| Author | Dina Tbaishat |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science,Librarianship/library management,HR in libraries,Library strategy,Library promotion |
Business process modelling using
ARIS: process architecture
Dina Tbaishat
University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
Abstract
Purpose –Academic libraries have witnessed huge changes due to internal and external factors. Recent
evidence shows that there is a lack of interest in process analysis within academic libraries. There is a lot
written on the need to change academic libraries but there is little analytical research that investigates
processes, in terms of the process architecture. The paper aims to discuss this issue.
Design/methodology/approach –The modelling tool used is Architecture of Integrated Information
Systems (ARIS).
Findings –ARIS can provide a process architecture and design for academic libraries that might raise
questions later about procedures and some inefficiencies.
Research limitations/implications –Library managers might need to learn new techniques.
Originality/value –There is a lot written on the need to change academic libraries but there is little
analytical research that investigates processes, in terms of the process architecture. This research examines
business process modelling for academic libraries, focusing on the process architecture, as a way of
visualizing, understanding and documenting processes.
Keywords Academic libraries, Process architecture, Library management, ARIS,
Business process modelling, Library processes
Paper type Research paper
1. Introduction
The rise of technology has brought an information age that is heavily reliant on information
and communication technology: “It is an age where the survival and development of
humankind are ultimately defined by the use, production and consumption of information”
(Ngulube, 2004). Academic libraries are important parts of this world, as organizations
providing wealthy information resources.
During the past decades, the library environment and the nature of work within libraries
have changed radically. A key theme is the management of change and embedding
innovation in academic libraries and information services throughout this period of
continuous change. In today’s competitive world, change is an important aspect of any
business lifespan, a business that does not continuously try to improve cannot expect to last
long (Noran, 2000).
Business process modelling is essential in this era of rapid organizational change and
competitive business environments. It is invaluable for both business and information
technology audiences. Organizations aim to improve their processes through frequent
adaptation of new business models that can serve and cope with emerging needs.
The availability and capability of various information technology tools that are specifically
created to design business processes and model organizational structures have made
reaching the goal easier. The academic library is one example of an organization that is
facing major challenges. During the past decades, the library environment and the nature of
work within libraries have changed radically, therefore; innovative ways for managing
change in academic libraries and information services is essential. Business organizations –
including academic libraries –are being described in terms of processes rather than
functional hierarchies. To be able to deal with change and improve libraries functions and
processes, business process modelling can be used to examine libraries activities, and it can
Library Management
Vol. 38 No. 2/3, 2017
pp. 88-107
© Emerald PublishingLimited
0143-5124
DOI 10.1108/LM-05-2016-0042
Received 9 May 2016
Revised 23 November 2016
Accepted 2 January 2017
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
www.emeraldinsight.com/0143-5124.htm
Many thanks to the author’s friend Mohammed Marie for his advice on using ARIS.
88
LM
38,2/3
also help improve processes as it involves redesigning organizations to remove unnecessary
communication, processing and duplication of data (Bond, 1999). This paper introduces
generic process architecture that embraces the main processes taking place in academic
libraries. The tool explored and used for this research is Architecture of Integrated
Information Systems (ARIS). The main research question is:
RQ1. How can business process modelling using ARIS visualize library processes?
2. Business process modelling in academic libraries
Processes are used to describe business organizations. Business processes refer to the
workflow within an organization or a company, the processes and the transactions involved
within the enterprise. “BPM is a set of technologies and standards for the design, execution,
administration, and monitoring of business processes”(Havey, 2005). Organizations are
using the business process modelling increasingly to document, redesign processes and
develop their systems. Such models investigate interactions between actors working on
a process (Leopold et al., 2012). In other words, business process models help understand the
organization’s work, comprehend the process in detail and then use technological support
for the improvements to human activities.
A lot of business process modelling methods are available in the literature, with different
notations. Dijkman et al. (2012) state that new challenges and opportunities have emerged
due to the large collections of business process models. As stated by Rosemann (2006),
flowcharting of processes have been around for a while to represent a business process but
terminology has changed; process modelling instead of mapping or flowcharting.
Simple flow charts are still used, such as the one used for representing the process of
downloading an article (Cyburt et al., 2010). Caetano et al. (2005) stated that the Object
Management Group summarized the basics of process diagrams in its Unified Modelling
Language (UML).
Ould (1995) developed the Systematic Technique for Role and Interaction Modelling method
for the business process design in his book Business Processes, and this method predates his
later development of Riva, which includes methods for designing the process architecture.
The modelling method Riva presents Process Architecture Diagram (PAD) to view
organizational processes, and Role Activity Diagram (RAD) to model individual processes.
ARIS is another modelling tool that can be used to view and improve library processes.
It has been used in various organizations for modelling purposes; Tang and Hwang (2006)
used ARIS to model electronic school campus processes. The modelling using this method
resulted in shorter schedule of project implementation and reduced risk of failure.
This indicates the importance of introducing dynamic models of processes to keep pace with
the rapid changes in business environments. Vidovic and Vuksic (2003) developed a simple
simulation model –using ARIS –for Croatian insurance company process in an attempt to
evaluate the potential benefits and constraints of the dynamic business process modelling.
In another work by Scheer and Nüttgens (2000), a general business process architecture
using ARIS was presented, which is composed of four distinct levels: process engineering,
process planning and control, workflow control and application systems. Rippl (2005)
compared ARIS with Select Perspective (from Select Business Solutions), by describing the
main differences between the two approaches, for instance, perspective is object oriented
while ARIS is a structured methodology. The paper also suggested the areas in which
either approach can be used, for example, the author states that ARIS is a more general
framework that can be used for creating models of business processes in a wider area of
business analysis.
For libraries, library managers have had concerns about finding new approaches to
library operations a long time ago; for example, Rau (2007) discusses three examples from
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