Requirements for Agile/Virtual Enterprise Intetgration

Abstract

This chapter introduces the requirements for Agile/Virtual Enterprise (A/VE) integration, discusses reconfigurability dynamics and business alignment and proposes a virtual enterprise extended life cycle. The requirement of dynamic reconfigurability of the A/VE model is introduced in and the causes of reconfiguration needs are presented. This chapter also clarifies the concepts of basic resources and complex resources, and discusses concepts related with selection complexity, selection models and solution space dimension. It gives examples of reconfigurability dynamics, and introduces three dynamics parameters. The need of keeping the A/VE aligned with business requirements results in A/VE reconfiguration. The permanent business alignment of the A/VE requires a high reconfiguration dynamics. This chapter introduces a referential for A/VE alignment, involving the market opportunity (or the product required by the market), the A/VE project and the resources providers. It also presents the main functionalities that must be assured to support the implementation of the A/VE model. Finally, this chapter presents a new VE lifecycle, the Agile/Virtual Enterprise extended life cycle.