xoEPC - Jan Mendling

1.3. Epistemological Position 11
cess modeling languages, predicate logic, formal semantics, graph theory, software
measurement, and logistic regression.
Guideline 6: Design as a Search Process Problem solving in design science can be de-
fined as utilizing suitable means to reach desired ends while respecting laws im-
posed by the environment [Sim96]. Suitable means in this context refer to an avail-
able operation that can be used to build a solution, ends represent goals and con-
straints, and laws capture forces of the environment that cannot be controlled. The
wickedness of the design-science problem implies that means, ends, and laws can-
not be represented on the level of completeness and precision that would be needed
for an optimization problem. The problem of finding predictors for error probabil-
ity in business process models exactly displays this wickedness. In this thesis, we
seek to establish a satisficing solution in the terms of Simon, based on a set of busi-
ness process model metrics and on a notion of correctness called EPC soundness.
In this setting, it is crucial to demonstrate that a certain solution does work, even if
it is not yet completely understood why it works (cf. [HMPR04]). Using a logistic
regression approach, we are not only able to show that this set of metrics does suit
for predicting errors, but also that the hypothetical direction of the impact can be
validated and that it outperforms existing approaches.
Guideline 7: Communication of Research The design solution has to be presented to
both the academic community and to practitioners who might be interested in the
findings [HMPR04]. For the research community, communication extends the
knowledge base and offers repetition of research in order to check for correctness.
Working on this thesis has led to the publication of five journal articles, five book
chapters, 49 workshop and conference papers, and 19 technical reports and popular
publications. This means that several concepts of this thesis are already publicly
available as part of the information systems knowledge base.
Relating this thesis to the information systems research guidelines highlights that it suf-
fices international research standards in this discipline and that it enhances its knowledge
base in several directions.