Title
Prof. Dr.
Last Name
Aier
First name
Stephan
Email
stephan.aier@unisg.ch
ORCID
Phone
+41 71 224 3360
Google Scholar
1 - 10 of 20
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PublicationCrossing the line: overcoming knowledge boundaries in enterprise transformationEnterprise transformations are fundamental changes in an organization. Such changes typically affect different stakeholder groups (e.g., program managers, business managers) that exhibit a significant diversity regarding their members' knowledge, goals, and underlying assumptions. Yet, creating shared understanding among diverse stakeholder groups in transformations is a main antecedent for success. In this paper, we analyze which properties of enterprise architecture models contribute to syntactic, semantic, and pragmatic capacities and thereby help to create shared understanding among stakeholder groups involved in enterprise transformation. We assess the differences among stakeholder groups through the lens of knowledge boundaries, and enterprise architecture models through the lens of boundary objects. We develop and empirically test a research model that describes which boundary object properties are required to overcome three progressively complex knowledge boundaries-syntactic, semantic, and pragmatic. Our findings show which boundary object properties contribute to a respective capacity needed to overcome each of the three knowledge boundaries. Specifically, we find that for (1) a syntactic capacity, concrete and modular EA models are helpful; (2) a semantic capacity, visual EA model properties are relevant, and (3) a pragmatic capacity, broad stakeholder participation is conductive.Type:Journal:Volume:Issue:
Scopus© Citations 41 -
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PublicationCriteria of Progress for Information Systems Design TheoriesAccording to Kuhn, science and progress are strongly interrelated. In this paper, we define criteria of progress for design theories. A broad analysis of the literature on information systems design science reveals that there is no consensus on the criteria of progress for design theories. We therefore analyze different concepts of progress for natural science theories. Based on well-founded criteria stemming from the philosophy of science and referring to natural science theories, we develop a set of criteria of progress for design theories. In summary, our analysis results in six criteria of progress for design theories: A design theory is partially progressive compared to another if it is ceteris paribus (1) more useful, (2) internally more consistent, (3) externally more consistent, (4) more general, (5) simpler, or (6) more fruitful of further research. Although the measurement of these criteria is not the focus of this paper, the problem of measurement cannot be totally neglected. We therefore discuss different methods for measuring the criteria based on different concepts of truth: the correspondence theory of truth, the coherence theory of truth, and the consensus theory of truth. We finally show the applicability of the criteria with an example.Type:Journal:Volume:Issue:
Scopus© Citations 45 -
PublicationUnderstanding Processes for Model-based Enterprise Transformation PlanningThe aim of this paper is to deliver insight into enterprise transformation planning incorporating Enterprise Architecture (EA) models. The paper is based on analytically developed approaches to model-based enterprise transformation planning and uses six case studies to evaluate and extend the existing planning processes. To understand the planning situations and their respective planning processes, we cluster the observed processes and link them to empirically derived EA realisation forms. Thus, the resulting process model induced from our empirical observations can be tailored to fit specific needs of an organisation depending on its realisation form of EA.Type:Journal:Volume:Issue:
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PublicationApplication of Enterprise Models for Engineering Enterprise TransformationEnterprise models constitute a valuable basis for enterprise transformation because they usually represent a widely accepted image of an enterprise. Practitioners often put a lot of effort in the creation and maintenance of such models that therefore represent a significant investment. However, so far the information contained in enterprise models is to a large extend dateless which means it is hardly used to describe the transformation itself consistently. Therefore we propose a method to systematically derive an enterprise transformation model based on existing models representing enterprise structures at different points in time. The result of the method application is a set of project outlines derived from enterprise models. In order to generalize our approach to a multi-period transformation model capable of coping with dynamic changes and plan deviations we propose a respective conceptual system. Our research artefact (the method) is finally demonstrated in a case study.Type:Journal:Volume:Issue:
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PublicationHow to Preserve Agility in Service Oriented Architectures - An Explorative AnalysisAlthough companies introduced enterprise application integration (EAI) a couple of years ago, the complexity of corporate application landscapes is ever increasing. The current wave of technology being introduced into these application landscapes are service oriented architectures (SOA). Not unlike EAI before the introduction of these technologies is associated with re-use of software components and reaping cost cutting potentials. But when looking at the still increasing complexity of application landscapes following the introduction of SOA, the re-use and cost cutting arguments lead to disappointment. However, SOA offers a great potential to increase corporate agility. In order to gain and preserve corporate agility it is necessary to explicitly manage enterprise architecture. This paper discusses the problems of re-use and cost cutting expectations in SOA and contrasts them with the potentials related to make sustainable contributions to corporate agility. Structures, processes, and instruments to realize these potentials are discussed with reference to a literature review as well as to selected case studies.Type:Journal:Volume:Issue:
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PublicationClassification of Enterprise Architecture Scenarios - An Exploratory AnalysisEnterprise architecture (EA) provides a powerful basis to transform an organization and to continually align the organization to external and internal demands. The process of transformation can effectively and efficiently supported by appropriate EA methods. There is however no one-size-fits-all method which is suitable to support all kinds of transformations in all kinds of organizations. Different project types and different context types require different methods or at least different configurations or adaptations of a method. Based on an exploratory empirical analysis, we classify three different EA scenarios in this article. The identified EA scenarios can provide the basis for situational EA method engineering.
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PublicationA Federated Approach to Enterprise Architecture Model MaintenanceEnterprise architecture is gaining acceptance as an approach to manage change and foster IT/business alignmentby (1) propagating strategy and process changes to the software and infrastructure level, by (2) supportingconsistent business transformation enabled by technology innovations, and by (3) decoupling business-oriented andtechnology-oriented architectures. Due to constant change in business as well as in technology, enterprisearchitecture management is a permanent process rather than a one-time effort. To keep enterprise architecturemodels up-to-date, a well-engineered maintenance concept including processes, roles and schedules is needed. Thispaper discusses the shortcomings of existing approaches to enterprise architecture model maintenance, proposes afederated approach, and reports on its implementation at a large financial service provider.Type:Journal:Volume:Issue:
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PublicationUntangling EA’s Long Path of Becoming a Partner for Business Transformation: The Case of Swiss Federal Railways(IEEE Computer Society, 2016-09-05)
Scopus© Citations 7 -
PublicationImplementing Architectural Thinking: A Case Study at Commerzbank AG(Springer, 2015-06-08)
Scopus© Citations 13