xoEPC - Jan Mendling

1.3. Epistemological Position 9
The knowledge base offers solutions to problems which are already well understood.
Development and building can rely on foundations like theories, frameworks, instru-
ments, constructs, models, methods, and instantiations that have resulted from prior re-
search. Methodologies like data analysis techniques, formalisms, measures, and valida-
tion criteria are valuable in the justification and evaluation phase. The researcher applies
existing foundations and methodologies to a given problem in order to establish rigor.
Behavioral science often considers empirical evidence, while design sciences tends to
use mathematical methods more frequently. The overall goal of both behavioral and de-
sign science is to address the business need and to contribute to the knowledge base for
future application. The lack of addition to the knowledge base can be used to distin-
guish routine design and design research. While routine design tackles business needs
by applying existing knowledge, design research establishes either innovative solutions
to unsolved problems or more efficient or effective solutions to solved problems. Ac-
cordingly, design research contributes to the knowledge base while routine design does
not.
1.3.2 Relation to Information Systems Research Guidelines
The Information Systems Research Framework emphasizes the similarities between be-
havioral science and design science. Related to that, Hevner et al. suggest a set of seven
guidelines for effective information systems research, in particular for works with a de-
sign science focus [HMPR04]. On the following pages, we use these guidelines to discuss
in how far this thesis meets information systems research standards.
Guideline 1: Design an Artifact Information systems research aims to design purpose-
ful artifacts addressing business needs within an organizational setting. Artifacts
in this context include constructs, models, methods, and instantiations [HMPR04].
In this thesis, we formalize EPC semantics, EPC soundness, and error metrics as
constructs that can be used to analyze and simulate EPC business process models.
Furthermore, we define methods in this sense to calculate the reachability graph,
to verify soundness based on reachability graph analysis as well as reduction rules,
and to calculate metrics from the process models. Finally, we present prototypical