INTEGRATING INFORMATION SYSTEMS: LINKINGGLOBAL BUSINESS GOALS TO LOCAL DATABASEAPPLICATIONS

摘要

This paper describes a new approach to design modern information systems that offer anrnintegrated access to the data and knowledge that is available in local applications. Byrnintegrating the local data management activities into one transparent information distributionrnprocess, modern organizations can offer better support for its workers in the execution andrncoordination of their work activities.rnObserving practical applications of decentralized, autonomous and heterogeneous informationrnsystems we see deficiencies in currently available approaches to model such information systems.rnThey do not acknowledge the pivotal role that (informal) communicating workers play in therncontext of an entire organization. The interaction between the members of social and informalrngroups of employees makes it possible that (in many of today’s information-intensive enterprises)rnthe local structured procedures can be effectively and flexibly integrated into global workrnprocesses supporting the business goals.rnTraditional design techniques concentrate on either the structured local procedures (and itsrnlocal database applications), the structured global process (and its global business goals), orrnthe informal (less structured) communication between individuals. We suggest to combine anrnactivity-based model (suited to describe the structured parts of the processes) with a goal- orrnconversation-based model to tie the different elements together.rnUsing an agent architecture we show that it is possible to implement this integrated approach.rnThe different types of cooperating agents support the individual workers by assessing the goalrnof the activity, the applicability of the standard procedure, and the availability of alternativernknowledge and information in order to supply the necessary information.