Business Processes Modelling Methodologies for Complex Organizations I. Papagiannakis 1 , R. C. Papademetriou 1 , D. A. Karras 2 and M. Tziritas 2 Globalization and competitiveness force many organizations to change their structure and way of executing business processes. The structure of business organizations can be modelled similarly to information systems, as Leavitt’s famous diamond (Fig.1) suggests [4], [5]. Businesses are heterogeneous, dynamic, multi-agent and non-linear systems that, because of the principle of synthetic adaptation, comprise intelligent, adaptive and computational agents [2]. The main objective of businesses is to evolve into adaptive, prosperous and efficient organizations. In this new exceptionally demanding era, simple modelling approaches using flowcharts, MS-Visio or Excel are outdated and unable to deliver high quality results dictated by today’s business needs. The above objective can be achieved by constantly optimizing the business processes using Business Process Re-engineering (BPR) principles [1], [6]. It is worth mentioning that BPR entails software-aided approaches, which use state of the art business processes modelling tools like WITNESS and ProModel [3]. Business Process Modelling (BPM), a sub- category of BPR, can be conducted with several techniques, methodologies and dedicated software tools. A three-stage approach for categorising the various BPM techniques, methodologies and tools with respect to their capabilities is presented in this paper. Furthermore, it is shown that, although BPM techniques can successfully model the architecture of a business, they cannot provide answers to why it is the way it is and why certain moves have to be made for its improvement. Software tools, however, can provide this insight to business organizations through simulation. In this paper, OrgAhead, a software tool appropriate for theoretical evaluation of the long-term tendency of an organization to evolve into a successful, or not, business, is also presented and evaluated. Developed at Carnegie Mellon University, it has been successfully used by the U.S Navy and in various anti-terrorism scenarios [2]. This software tool was selected because it can provide optimization solutions to quite complex business structures offering also sufficient expandability for specific purposes, e.g., an aerospace industry’s environment. The authors are with the (1) ECE Dept., University of Portsmouth, UK and (2) Hellenic Aerospace Industry, Greece (e_mail: rallis.papademetriou@port.ac.uk) Figure 1. Leavitt’s diamond – Display of factors, which an enterprise depends on References [1] Anonymous. (n.d.). Information about Modelling Methodologies. Retrieved February 22, 2005, from: http://www.cip.ukcentre.com/risk.htm . [2] CASOS. (n.d.). Centre for Computational Analysis of Social and Organizational Systems (CASOS). Retrieved April 10, 2005, from: http://www.casos.cs.cmu.edu . [3] Hommes, Bart-Jan. (1999). Information about Business Process Modelling techniques and Tools. Retrieved February 21, 2005, from: http://is.twi.tudelft.nl/~hommes/toolsub.html . [4] Kioudouzis, E. (2002). Analysis and Modelling Methodologies for Information Systems, (2/e), Benou Publ., Athens, Greece. [5] Laopodis, V. (2003). Evolution of Information Systems –Analysis and Modelling of Systems, (2/e), New Technology Publ., Athens, Greece. [6] Production Modelling Limited. (2003). General Information about Business Process Management and about Software Simulation Tools used by Aerospace Industry (Boeing). Retrieved Feb. 22, 2005, from: http://www.simulation.co.uk/app_business.htm