School of Electronic, Electrical and Systems Engineering

There is a severe lack of usable, integrated dynamic enterprise simulation models that allow organisations to explore, prior to deployment of detailed design, the implications of change initiatives, such as the introduction of new processes, new capabilities, new working practices etc., particularly from an organisational and human performance perspective. Existing models and reference architectures such as GERAM, VERAM, TOVE and PERA, deal with enterprise elements, such as resources, information flows and functions, well, but,

1. within a process framework, and
2. they do not have a sufficient capability to include enterprise characteristics, such as policies, culture, competencies, DM structures etc. within dynamic models to allow the impact of changes in one or more of these characteristics to be traced back in terms of changes to overall organisation or system performance.

Therefore, this project was about predicting the future in that it created

1. the building blocks of a coherent enterprise modelling capability, comprising a portfolio of models of enterprise characteristics linked to existing models, and
2. derived a detailed user requirement and high level technical specification for an organisational test rig, which, when successfully implemented would enable the modelling of organisational structures and other business elements to explore both business unit/ IPT and system design optimisation.

Managers would be able to explore business models with alternative configurations and improve project and risk management processes by being able to evaluate whether a particular organisational context, team structures, working practices, etc., is inhibiting or facilitating the introduction of a new capability, a new system, legislative changes etc. The tool could also serve as a training and sensitisation tool for the development of managerial skills and perspectives.