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 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.

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