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Introducing a Rule-Based Architecture for Workflow Systems in Retail Supply Chain

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Introducing a Rule-Based Architecture for Workflow Systems in Retail Supply Chain INTRODUCING A RULE-BASED ARCHITECTURE FOR WORKFLOW SYSTEMS IN RETAIL SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT Master’s (one year) thesis in Informatics (15 credits) Sheng Li Spring 2012 2011MAGI24 Title: Introducing a rule-based architecture for workflow systems in retail supply chain management Year: 2012 Author: Sheng Li Supervisor: Mikeal Lind Abstract Problem: While global IT competition is becoming increasingly severe, various business organizations and companies, in order to maximize the profit and gain market competitiveness, are in urgent need of high-performance workflow systems to improve efficiency. However, the workflow systems that are currently used are embedded with fixed business rules that cannot be easily adjusted by users, resulting in the inability of users to make adjustments to the business rules, so as to satisfy changed requirements and deal with high cost of business management and low efficiency. Therefore, it is highly desirable for users of workflow systems, especially retail supply chain companies, to employ a new type of systems that can be easily adjusted by end users themselves when required. Solution: The rule-based workflow system architecture for the management of retail supply chain business process is recommended. In such architecture, the business rules can be separated from the system logic and managed by users via a friendly interface. The rule-based workflow systems can greatly enhance the system efficiency and lower maintenance cost, as compared with the traditional workflow system or other similar information systems. And the efficiency of retail supply chain business process management can be greatly enhanced by employing rule-based workflow systems. Methods: Two main research problems and four sub-research problems, which serve as the guidance to conduct related research work, have been identified. The research work has been divided into the theoretical part and the empirical part. In the theoretical part, the theory of rule base establishment and rule-based workflow system architecture are discussed. In the empirical part, data analysis as well as prototype design are conducted by employing both quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection. Attempts are also made to verify the theories suggested in the theoretical part by means of empirical research. Based on both theoretical and empirical research, attempts are made to find solutions to the research questions. In general, this thesis arms at providing references for the future research related to rule-based workflow system management in retail supply chain management. The thesis also aims to provide references for the practical use of rule-based systems in the retail supply chain field with such issues as system development and maintenance, especially for the system of complex and changeable business processes. Most importantly, some solutions are offered to the challenges of retail supply chain management. Keywords: Rule-based Workflow System, Retail Supply Chain Management, Business Rule, Business Process Management Acknowledgements Here, I would like to express my gratitude to all those people who have provided me with useful and kindly assistance during my research. Without their care and support, this thesis would not be able to be completed. First and foremost, I would like to express my sincere appreciation on my advisor, Mikael Lind, whose kind help, guidance, support and encouragement throughout the last several months helped me to finally finish this thesis for master‟s degree. Meanwhile, my heartfelt appreciation also goes to other professors from University of Boras from whose lectures I have not only broadened and solidified my knowledge and vision but also served as a solid foundation for my research work and future career. In addition, I want to make a grateful acknowledgement to my friends for their kind assistance to my research. Finally, I am deeply indebted to my parents who are always the sources of support and encouragement to me, both financially and spiritually. Table of Contents 1 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 BACKGROUND ........................................................................................................................ 1 1.1.1 Background Information of Workflow and Workflow System ...................................... 1 1.1.2 Background Information of Business Process Management .......................................... 1 1.1.3 Background Information of Retail Supply Chain Management ..................................... 2 1.2 PROBLEM DESCRIPTION ...................................................................................................... 2 1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS ........................................................................................................ 3 1.4 PURPOSE AND EXPECTED RESULTS ................................................................................. 4 1.5 DELIMITATIONS ..................................................................................................................... 4 1.6 TARGET GROUPS ................................................................................................................... 5 1.7 SUMMARY OF PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE CONTRIBUTIONS ......................................... 5 1.8 BACKGROUND OF AUTHOR ................................................................................................ 8 1.9 OUTLINE................................................................................................................................... 8 2 RESEARCH METHOD ......................................................................................................... 10 2.0 SCIENTIFIC PERSPECTIVE.................................................................................................. 10 2.1 RESEARCH APPROACH ....................................................................................................... 11 2.2 KNOWLEDGE CHARACTERISTICS ................................................................................... 14 2.3 RESEARCH STRATEGY ....................................................................................................... 17 2.4 DATA COLLECTION ............................................................................................................. 17 2.4.1 Qualitative Method ...................................................................................................... 18 2.4.2 Quantitative Method .................................................................................................... 18 2.4.3 Selection of Cases and Respondents ............................................................................ 18 2.5 DATA ANALYSIS .................................................................................................................. 19 2.6 EVALUATION METHOD ...................................................................................................... 21 3 THEORETICAL PART ......................................................................................................... 22 3.1 BUSINESS RULE .................................................................................................................... 23 3.1.1 Why it is essential to manage the business rules .......................................................... 24 3.2 WORKFLOW ENGINE ........................................................................................................... 24 3.3 RULE ENGINE ........................................................................................................................ 26 3.3.1 Forward Chaining Algorithm ....................................................................................... 28 3.3.1.1 Rete Algorism .............................................................................................................. 29 3.3.1.2 WF Algorism ............................................................................................................... 30 3.4 RULE BASE ............................................................................................................................ 31 3.4.1 Rule Acquisition .......................................................................................................... 33 3.4.2 Rule Analysis ............................................................................................................... 34 3.4.3 Rule Language Definition ............................................................................................ 35 3.4.4 Rule Base Establishment.............................................................................................. 35 3.4.5 Rule Maintenance ........................................................................................................ 36 3.5 BUSINESS PROCESS MODELING AND REENGINEERING ............................................ 36 3.6 RULE-BASED WORKFLOW SYSTEM MODEL ................................................................. 38 3.6.1 System Architecture ..................................................................................................... 38 3.6.2 Dynamic Modification Strategy ................................................................................... 41 3.7 WORKFLOW PROCESS DESIGN ......................................................................................... 42 3.8 DEVELOPMENT ENVIRONMENTS AND TOOLS FOR PROTOTYPE DESIGN............. 42 3.9 SUMMARY OF THEORETICAL RESEARCH
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