Business process re-engineering tools offer techniques to model the enterprise and identify opportunities to make change. This book examines the approaches, tools and techniques which support redesign of the enterprise to achieve world class performance.

"This book presents a wide range of issues and challenges related to business process reengineering technologies and systems through the use of case studies"--Provided by publisher.

Systems Engineering for Business Process Change: New Directions is a collection of papers resulting from an EPSRC managed research programme set up to investigate the relationships between Legacy IT Systems and Business Processes. The papers contained in this volume report the results from the projects funded by the programme, which ran between 1997 and 2001. An earlier volume, published in 2000, reported interim results. Bringing together researchers from diverse backgrounds in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering and Business Schools, this book explores the problems experienced by IT-dependent businesses that have to implement changing business processes in the context of their investment in legacy systems. The book presents some of the solutions investigated through the collaborations set up within the research programme. Whether you are a researcher interested in the ideas that were generated by the research programme, or a user trying to understand the nature of the problems and their solutions, you cannot fail to be inspired by the writings contained in this volume.

This book comprises a set of papers selected from those presented at the fifth « International Conference on Enterprise Information Systems », (ICEIS’2003) held in Angers, France, from 23 to 26 April 2003. The conference was organised by École Supérieure d’Électronique de l’Ouest (ESEO) of Angers, France and the Escola Superior de Tecnologia of Setúbal, Portugal. Since its first edition in 1999, ICEIS focuses on real world applications and aims at bringing together researchers, engineers and practitioners interested in the advances and business applications of information systems. As in previous years, ICEIS’2003 held four simultaneous tracks covering different aspects of enterprise computing: Databases and Information Systems Integration, Artificial Intelligence and Decision Support Systems, Information Systems Analysis and Specification and Software Agents and Internet Computing. Although ICEIS’2003 received 546 paper submissions from over 50 countries, only 80 were accepted as full papers and presented in 30-minutes oral presentations. With an acceptance rate of 15%, these numbers demonstrate the intention of preserving a high quality forum for future editions of this conference. From the articles accepted as long papers for the conference, only 32 were selected for inclusion in this book Additional keynote lectures, tutorials and industrial sessions were also held during ICEIS’2003, and, for the first time this year, the 1st Doctoral Consortium on Enterprise Information Systems gave PhD students an opportunity to present their work to an international audience of experts in the field of information systems.

As the 21st century begins, we are faced with opportunities and challenges of available technology as well as pressured to create strategic and tactical plans for future technology. Worldwide, IT professionals are sharing and trading concepts and ideas for effective IT management, and this co-operation is what leads to solid IT management practices. This volume is a collection of papers that present IT management perspectives from professionals around the world. The papers seek to offer new ideas, refine old ones, and pose interesting scenarios to help the reader develop company-sensitive management strategies.

Career success for engineers who wish to move up the management ladder, requires more than an understanding of engineering and technological principles - it demands a profound understanding of today's business management issues and principles. In this unique book, the author provides you with a valuable understanding of contemporary management concepts and their applications in a technical organization. You get in-depth coverage of product selection and management, engineering design and product costing, concurrent engineering, value management, configuration management, risk management, reengineering strategies and benefits, managing creativity and innovation, information technology management, and software management. The large number of solved examples highlighted throughout the text underscore the value of this book as an indispensable "How To" manual, and library reference piece.

The first practical guide to using reengineering to dramatically improve the development and success of new products. Executives, product development teams and engineering design groups will see how to consistently execute successful new product launches. In a compelling, clear fashion, Hunt describes how companies can fully integrate their product development process by focusing on seven key initiatives. They include process understanding; broad-based process reengineering; establishing quality goals and multi-functional teams; using the right tools and techniques; and implementing ongoing continuous improvement.

Featuring contributions from prominent thinkers and researchers, this volume in the "Advances in Management Information Systems" series provides a rich set of conceptual, empirical, and introspective studies that epitomize fundamental knowledge in the area of Business Process Transformation. Processes are interpreted broadly to include operational and managerial processes within and between organizations, as well as those involved in knowledge generation. Transformation includes radical and incremental change, its conduct, management, and outcome. The editors and contributing authors pay close attention to the role of IS organizations and information technologies in facilitating business process transformation. Each chapter places major emphasis on clearly articulating the "knowledge" generated, both theoretical and applied. The book incorporates case studies and tables throughout, and provides fundamental grounding for any stakeholder of business process transformation.

The implementation of Enterprise Networks or e-Networking is of paramount importance for organisations. Enterprise-wide networking would warrant that the components of information architecture are organised to harness more out of the organisation's computing power on the desktop. This would also involve establishment of networks that link the various but important subsystems of the enterprise. Our firm belief is that in order to gain a competitive edge the organisations need knowledge and sound strategy. This conviction is particularly true today, considering the pressures from international competition, environmental concerns and complicated ethical issues. This book, entitled A Manager's Primer on e-Networking, negotiates the hyper dimensions of the Internet through stories from myriad of Web sites with its fluent presentation and simple but chronological organisation of topics highlighting numerous opportunities and providing a solid starting point not only for inexperienced entrepreneurs and managers but anyone interested in applying information technology in the business. I sincerely hope the book will help as well many small and medium size companies and organisations to launch corporate networking successfully in order to attain their strategic objectives. Rajiv Jayashankar, Ph. D.

Today enterprises must strive to improve their competitiveness in a changing environment. To reach this objective it is necessary for companies to evaluate their performances and to combine modelling, business process re-engineering and benchmarking techniques. This book demonstrates the successful combination and implementation of these various techniques.