[论文解读] Business Processes: The Theoretical Impact of Process Thinking on Information Systems Development

Mark Dumay|ArXiv.org|Sep 19, 2004

Complex Systems and Decision Making参考文献 48被引用 5

一句话总结

本文探讨了业务流程中的流程思维如何通过增加结构复杂性并促进技术化组织视角，对信息系统开发（ISD）产生负面影响，从而边缘化利益相关者的参与。文章认为，尽管企业应用集成（EAI）等技术解决方案可应对结构问题，但要克服认识论上的不足，必须在当前技术方法之外实现根本性的思维转变。

ABSTRACT

This paper investigates two aspects of process thinking that affect the success rate of IT projects. These two aspects are the changes in the structure of organizations and the epistemology of Information Systems Development. Firstly, the conception of business processes within the management of organizations increases the structural complexity of Information Systems, because existing systems have to be integrated into a coherent cross-functional architecture. Secondly, process thinking leads to a particular view of organizations that ultimately has a negative effect on the support of Information Systems. As an illustration of process thinking, the Business Process Reengineering movement adheres to a technocratic management perspective of organizations. Particularly this conception of organization views people as mechanisms to realize certain organizational goals. As a result of this view stakeholders are confronted with the implemented systems, rather than consulted about the scope and functionality of those systems. Therefore, both aspects of process thinking have a negative impact on the success of IT projects. The problem of structural complexity is an area that is addressed by Enterprise Application Integration, and mainly requires technical solutions. However, the problems associated with the conception of organization require a different, markedly non-technical, perspective. Several directions are discussed to overcome some limitations of process thinking, but these directions are merely small pointers. If truly effective and useful Information Systems are to be acquired, IT practitioners and scientists require a completely different mindset.

研究动机与目标

• 分析流程思维对信息系统开发（ISD）的理论影响。
• 识别流程思维如何影响ISD中的组织结构与认识论。
• 探讨技术化管理视角对IT项目中利益相关者参与的负面影响。
• 提出克服流程思维局限性需要在ISD实践与研究中实现非技术性、思维层面的转变。

提出的方法

• 将业务流程再造（BPR）运动作为组织管理中流程思维的关键案例进行分析。
• 探讨集成跨职能系统所带来的结构影响，导致ISD中复杂性增加。
• 研究将组织视为可优化的机械系统所带来的认识论转变。
• 评估由于采用自上而下、目标导向的组织模型，导致利益相关者被排除在系统设计之外的后果。
• 讨论企业应用集成（EAI）作为应对结构复杂性的技术对策。
• 提出克服认识论局限性需要思维范式的转变，而不仅仅是技术解决方案。

实验结果

研究问题

• RQ1 组织中的流程思维如何影响信息系统结构复杂性？
• RQ2 流程思维在多大程度上塑造了信息系统开发的认识论？
• RQ3 为何流程思维中对组织的技术化视角会导致IT项目中利益相关者参与度低下？
• RQ4 像企业应用集成（EAI）这样的技术解决方案在解决ISD中流程思维的深层问题方面存在哪些局限性？
• RQ5 需要何种替代性思维模式才能实现真正有效且有用的信息系统？

主要发现

• 由于需要实现跨职能集成，流程思维导致信息系统结构复杂性增加，需借助企业应用集成（EAI）等技术解决方案应对。
• 流程思维固有的技术化组织视角将人视为实现目标的机械装置，使其沦为执行者而非合作者。
• 这种机械化的视角导致利益相关者在系统实施后才被面对，而非在设计阶段参与。
• 流程思维引起的认识论转变通过忽视系统开发中的人的因素与情境因素，损害了有效的ISD。
• 当前的技术解决方案无法解决深层次的认识论问题，因此ISD实践亟需根本性的思维转变。
• 本文结论认为，要实现成功且有用的信息系统，必须实现思维方式的全面范式转变。