Abstract
In this chapter, the authors present an applied holistic mathematical model for business transformation (AHMM)-specific implementation for supporting an intelligent strategic decision making system (iSDMS) that is based on the management and evaluation of critical success factors (CSF). The AHMM-based iSDMS is based on a unique mixed research method that is supported by a mainly the author's qualitative research module, where the main goal is to insure long-term strategic business competitive advantage. An adapted AHMM for iSDMSs uses a natural programming language (NLP) environment and CSFs to model iSDMS. The iSDMS is based on a central reasoning engine and a distributed enterprise architecture project's (EAP) paradigm. This chapter's experiment is based on a proof of concept (PoC), which presents a concrete transformation decision making case, where the central point is the transformation of an information system. Such an iSDMS is managed by an iSDMS transformation manager(s) (iSDMSTM); it uses a methodology and a framework that can support and estimate the risks of implementation of an iSDMS and then uses it to solve problems. The iSDMSTM is responsible for the implementation of the complex iSDMSs, where during its implementation phase, the chosen transformation framework supports the iSDMSTM in a just-in-time manner. The “I” or “i” prefix does not stand just for the vulgare urban and siloed business and technical environments but for a distributed and holistic approach to transform complex business and technical systems.
TopBackground
The iSDMS concept is implemented and checked by the PoC, in order to prove it’s feasibility, using the AHMM structure to support Business Transformation Projects (BTP) and EAPs (simply Project, the term will be used). This chapter on decision making is a continuation of many years of Research and Development Project (RDP) on various Project processes using decision systems and requirement management systems (Trad, 2020a; Trad & Kalpić, 2019c, 2019d). This chapter presents the AHMM based iSDMS that is the result of research on requirement definition/engineering/mapping, strategic decision making systems, business case studies, transformation projects, applied mathematics, software modelling, business engineering and financial analysis. This chapter is based on an authentic and proprietary research method that is supported by an underlining mainly pseudo-qualitative holistic reasoning/decision module (Trad, 2019a, 2019b; Trad & Kalpić, 2017a, 2017b, 2017c, 2017d; Gunasekare, 2015). The proposed AHMM based iSDMS presents an empirical process that is mainly based on the beam-search, like heuristic decision-making process that use a natural language environment that can be easily adopted by the project teams (Bingham, Eisenhardt & Furr, 2007; Myers, Pane, & Ko, 2004; Kim & Kim, 1999; Della Croce & T'kindt, 2002). This chapter’s background combines: 1) Artificial Intelligence (AI); 2) decision system; 3) Requirement Engineering (RE) and mapping; 4) strategic systems; 5) Knowledge Management (KM); 6) AHMM; 7) EAP; 8) heuristics; 9) technology management; and 10) business transformation and business engineering fields. Building a iSDMS should be the major strategic goal to be achieved for the end business company (Trad, 2020a, Trad & Kalpić, 2019c, 2019d), as shown in Figure 1, the strategic decision making technologies for the next decade is the leading treading trend and the combination of intelligent systems, algorithms and architectural methodologies (Lanubile, Ebert, Prikladnicki & Vizcaíno, 2010; Cearley, Walker, & Burke, 2016; Thomas, 2015).
Figure 1. (Cearley, Walker, Burke, 2016). Key Terms in this Chapter
RQ: Research question.
EA: Enterprise architecture.
Manager: Business transformation manager.
CSA: Critical success area.
TOGAF: The Open Group’s architecture framework.
AHMM: Applied holistic mathematical model.
Project: Business transformation project.
EAP: Enterprise architecture project.
KM: Knowledge management.
BTP: Business transformation project.
ICs: Information and communication system.
DMS: Decision-making system.
ADM: Architecture development method.