Marcel Christ | University of Hamburg (original) (raw)

Papers by Marcel Christ

Research paper thumbnail of High-level Petri Nets for a Model of Organizational Decision Making

… on the Practical Use of High- …, 2000

Abstract. This paper introduces a new direction in formalizing sociological models. Sociological ... more Abstract. This paper introduces a new direction in formalizing sociological models. Sociological theories are a field of application for computer science, hence sociologists describe a theory in informal ways. These theories are transformed into computational ...

Research paper thumbnail of A New Look Into Garbage Cans - Petri Nets and Organisational Choice

Research paper thumbnail of Modelling Social Behaviour with Petri net based Multi-Agent Systems

An important issue regarding the deeper understanding of social and organisational phenomena is t... more An important issue regarding the deeper understanding of social and organisational phenomena is the interaction and the linkage between micro and macro layers. The micro-macro-link deals with the emergent aggregation of processes and actions on the micro-level and with structures, rules and roles on the macro-level. This paper presents recent results of the “socionics” project ASKO, which is a fusion of sociology and computer science. Due to the interdisciplinary character of our project we use a graphical representation of our models: a special dialect of high-level Petri nets, namely reference nets, has been chosen, since it offers a simple and executable representation with a clear mathematical foundation.

Research paper thumbnail of Wissen, wie alles zusammenhängt

Informatik-Spektrum, 2006

Research paper thumbnail of Formal models, flexible processes? Lessons from a socio-technical analysis of business process modelling

In order to achieve quality in software development processes, it has been argued that one must n... more In order to achieve quality in software development processes, it has been argued that one must not only rely upon rigorous descriptions and models of processes to consolidate past experience, but also maintain flexibility in responding to new, unexpected situations. Aiming at examining the relationship between formal process models and flexibility, this paper presents a socio-technical analysis of a business process modelling project in an aircraft maintenance company. This analysis dialogues with works on the actor-network tradition, concluding that the relation between formal models and flexible processes is complex and multi-dimensional, and thus offering resources for a more comprehensive perspective of process modelling projects.

Research paper thumbnail of Revealing the Sociotechnical Complexity of Business Process Modeling – An Actor-Network Theory Approach

In the last few years, the modeling of business processes has achieved considerable popularity in... more In the last few years, the modeling of business processes has achieved considerable popularity in organizations and academic research. However, business process modeling is often studied from either a technical or a social perspective, and as a result of this a priori fragmentation, tends to overlook the sociotechnical complexity involved in modeling projects. To overcome this problem, this paper adopts an analytical approach based on the Actor-Network Theory, and performs a case study on a process-based quality management project in a large aircraft maintenance company. The results of the case analysis show that the form and meaning of both the process models and organizational routines are negotiated by setting up sociotechnical networks in modeling projects, thus making it clear that process models and 'non-technical' issues co-constitute each other. In this way, the paper provides an analytical tool that can help unravel the sociotechnical complexity involved in process modeling.

Research paper thumbnail of Business processes as sociomaterial networks: Exploring the multiple dimensions of flexibility in process modeling

In the last few years, it has become common for organizations to document work practices by means... more In the last few years, it has become common for organizations to document work practices by means of business processes diagrams. An analysis of the assumptions underlying process modeling, shows that this procedure pursues two seemingly contradictory goals: on the one hand, it aims at formalizing work practices into diagrams that set out a defined sequencing of activities; on the other, it seeks to bestow flexibility on the organization -i.e. to allow it to maintain its ability to respond to unforeseen situations. On the basis of this seemingly contradictory motivation, this paper analyzes the implications of process modeling for flexibility by adopting a sociomaterial perspective that is grounded on the Actor-Network Theory. This is employed to conduct an empirical study of a processbased quality management project in a large aircraft maintenance company. The main contribution of this study is to provide a sociomaterial, multidimensional interpretation of the relationship between process modeling and flexibility.

Research paper thumbnail of The tension between business process modelling and flexibility: Revealing multiple dimensions with a sociomaterial approach

Business process modelling has contradictory effects on flexibility: on the one hand, recent appr... more Business process modelling has contradictory effects on flexibility: on the one hand, recent approaches to process modelling in organisations have been used to pursue flexibility as a strategic goal. On the other hand, the display of organisational practices in models and adherence to these models might reduce the degree of organisational flexibility. In order to shed new light on this paradox, this article adopts a sociomaterial analytical approach based on the Actor-Network Theory to develop a multidimensional understanding of flexibility as a relational effect of sociomaterial networks. A case study, carried out of a process modelling project within a large aircraft maintenance corporation, shows that the influence of process modelling on flexibility is not confined to the elements explicitly modelled in the diagrams (‘what’), but also span informal aspects of work practices (‘how’) and the extent of accountability in the organisation (‘who’). Therefore, the relative degree of flexibility that emerges from process modelling should be analysed along each dimension produced within the sociomaterial networks of the organisation.

Research paper thumbnail of High-level Petri Nets for a Model of Organizational Decision Making

… on the Practical Use of High- …, 2000

Abstract. This paper introduces a new direction in formalizing sociological models. Sociological ... more Abstract. This paper introduces a new direction in formalizing sociological models. Sociological theories are a field of application for computer science, hence sociologists describe a theory in informal ways. These theories are transformed into computational ...

Research paper thumbnail of A New Look Into Garbage Cans - Petri Nets and Organisational Choice

Research paper thumbnail of Modelling Social Behaviour with Petri net based Multi-Agent Systems

An important issue regarding the deeper understanding of social and organisational phenomena is t... more An important issue regarding the deeper understanding of social and organisational phenomena is the interaction and the linkage between micro and macro layers. The micro-macro-link deals with the emergent aggregation of processes and actions on the micro-level and with structures, rules and roles on the macro-level. This paper presents recent results of the “socionics” project ASKO, which is a fusion of sociology and computer science. Due to the interdisciplinary character of our project we use a graphical representation of our models: a special dialect of high-level Petri nets, namely reference nets, has been chosen, since it offers a simple and executable representation with a clear mathematical foundation.

Research paper thumbnail of Wissen, wie alles zusammenhängt

Informatik-Spektrum, 2006

Research paper thumbnail of Formal models, flexible processes? Lessons from a socio-technical analysis of business process modelling

In order to achieve quality in software development processes, it has been argued that one must n... more In order to achieve quality in software development processes, it has been argued that one must not only rely upon rigorous descriptions and models of processes to consolidate past experience, but also maintain flexibility in responding to new, unexpected situations. Aiming at examining the relationship between formal process models and flexibility, this paper presents a socio-technical analysis of a business process modelling project in an aircraft maintenance company. This analysis dialogues with works on the actor-network tradition, concluding that the relation between formal models and flexible processes is complex and multi-dimensional, and thus offering resources for a more comprehensive perspective of process modelling projects.

Research paper thumbnail of Revealing the Sociotechnical Complexity of Business Process Modeling – An Actor-Network Theory Approach

In the last few years, the modeling of business processes has achieved considerable popularity in... more In the last few years, the modeling of business processes has achieved considerable popularity in organizations and academic research. However, business process modeling is often studied from either a technical or a social perspective, and as a result of this a priori fragmentation, tends to overlook the sociotechnical complexity involved in modeling projects. To overcome this problem, this paper adopts an analytical approach based on the Actor-Network Theory, and performs a case study on a process-based quality management project in a large aircraft maintenance company. The results of the case analysis show that the form and meaning of both the process models and organizational routines are negotiated by setting up sociotechnical networks in modeling projects, thus making it clear that process models and 'non-technical' issues co-constitute each other. In this way, the paper provides an analytical tool that can help unravel the sociotechnical complexity involved in process modeling.

Research paper thumbnail of Business processes as sociomaterial networks: Exploring the multiple dimensions of flexibility in process modeling

In the last few years, it has become common for organizations to document work practices by means... more In the last few years, it has become common for organizations to document work practices by means of business processes diagrams. An analysis of the assumptions underlying process modeling, shows that this procedure pursues two seemingly contradictory goals: on the one hand, it aims at formalizing work practices into diagrams that set out a defined sequencing of activities; on the other, it seeks to bestow flexibility on the organization -i.e. to allow it to maintain its ability to respond to unforeseen situations. On the basis of this seemingly contradictory motivation, this paper analyzes the implications of process modeling for flexibility by adopting a sociomaterial perspective that is grounded on the Actor-Network Theory. This is employed to conduct an empirical study of a processbased quality management project in a large aircraft maintenance company. The main contribution of this study is to provide a sociomaterial, multidimensional interpretation of the relationship between process modeling and flexibility.

Research paper thumbnail of The tension between business process modelling and flexibility: Revealing multiple dimensions with a sociomaterial approach

Business process modelling has contradictory effects on flexibility: on the one hand, recent appr... more Business process modelling has contradictory effects on flexibility: on the one hand, recent approaches to process modelling in organisations have been used to pursue flexibility as a strategic goal. On the other hand, the display of organisational practices in models and adherence to these models might reduce the degree of organisational flexibility. In order to shed new light on this paradox, this article adopts a sociomaterial analytical approach based on the Actor-Network Theory to develop a multidimensional understanding of flexibility as a relational effect of sociomaterial networks. A case study, carried out of a process modelling project within a large aircraft maintenance corporation, shows that the influence of process modelling on flexibility is not confined to the elements explicitly modelled in the diagrams (‘what’), but also span informal aspects of work practices (‘how’) and the extent of accountability in the organisation (‘who’). Therefore, the relative degree of flexibility that emerges from process modelling should be analysed along each dimension produced within the sociomaterial networks of the organisation.