Process Complexity: Towards a Theory of Intent-oriented Process Design

Abstract

This paper attempts to formulate basic building blocks of an intent-oriented process design theory. Motivated by process engineering literature, this work extends the notion of process to an interactive algorithm that executes relational order according to environmental rules and conditions to satisfy an intention. This generalization of process takes into account physical and metaphysical environments. To classify processes beyond the activity, product, decision, and context oriented categories of process models, process complexity is defined by adopting an object-oriented view of situations and actions. Action-types and situation-types are mathematically formulated. This view of situations and actions concludes that process complexity is caused by group representation of objects and group inter-dynamics as formed by individual representation of objects and individual intra-dynamics then vice versa. An extension of intention theory that considers group and individual representations with inter-dynamics and intra-dynamics is concluded. An extended Nash Equilibrium approach is recommended as a future direction to solve group and individual intention dominance. This work recommends an abstract view of process actors as complex systems consisting of stable and modular subsystems. This abstract view includes human agents, information systems, and organizations – groups of human agents and information systems executing collective actions. This work views process actors as C3I3K complex systems (for Command, Control, Communications, Intention, Information, Intelligence, and Knowledge). A basic argument for the evolution of C3I3K complex systems is outlined. Finally, a model of the environment as distributed multilevel infrastructures (DMLI) is recommended to extend the four world model of process engineering.