=Paper=
{{Paper
|id=Vol-2420/paperDC4
|storemode=property
|title=Visualization of Environmental Performance Indicators (EPI) on Business Process Models: a hospitality industry perspective
|pdfUrl=https://ceur-ws.org/Vol-2420/paperDC4.pdf
|volume=Vol-2420
|authors=Shahrzad Roohy Gohar
|dblpUrl=https://dblp.org/rec/conf/bpm/Gohar19
}}
==Visualization of Environmental Performance Indicators (EPI) on Business Process Models: a hospitality industry perspective==
https://ceur-ws.org/Vol-2420/paperDC4.pdf
Visualization of Environmental Performance Indicators
(EPI) on Business Process Models: a hospitality industry
perspective
Shahrzad Roohy Gohar [0000-0002-6950-3365]
Business Information Systems, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland
Sh.roohygohar@business.uq.edu.au
Keywords: Green Business Process Management, Green Information Systems,
Environmental Performance Indicator, design science
1 Research problem and motivation
Reducing the environmental impact of organizational operations is of major importance
since governments and societies place great emphasis on the sustainable use of natural
resources. Hence, environmental sustainability [ES] becomes a focus and a competitive
advantage for organizations [1]. Such a focus, however, requires additional effort for
organizations to manage operational efficiency and reduce environmental impact. The
environmental impact is measured using core environmental performance indicators
(EPIs) comprising water consumption, energy consumption, waste generation, recy-
cling of materials, and CO2 and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions [2]. Government and
auditing companies use EPIs to audit the environmental performance of organizations.
However, it is a challenge to identify, measure and monitor energy and water consump-
tion as well as all other EPIs through the existing methods and beyond energy and water
bills.
From a Business Process Management (BPM) perspective [3], managing business pro-
cess performance requires the identification and measurement of performance indica-
tors and a shared perception of how processes and their inputs and outputs contribute
to the performance objectives of operations [4]. Likewise, managing the environmental
impact of business processes depends on a clear identification, measurement and an
effective visualization of EPIs. Thus, the research question of my thesis is how to iden-
tify, measure and visualize EPIs for business process models.
There are currently no empirically developed and validated approaches for identifying
and visualizing EPIs on business process models. Recker [5] proposed environmental-
risk awareness in BPM, followed by the suggestion to develop a modelling notation to
reflect carbon footprints in business process models [6]. Other researchers [7, 8] have
proposed frameworks for process-based measurement of energy consumption and sug-
gested developing an activity-based reporting tool for GHG emissions; or have pro-
posed [9] a method to measure energy consumption, CO2 and other performance indi-
cators of processes. However, the majority of these studies are conceptual and they do
not provide empirical validation of the results. I am, therefore, motivated to pursue the
2
development of an EPI process notation. Consequently, based on the original idea of
context-aware process management [10] and risk-aware process management [11], I
aim to design a solution for organizations, environmental auditors and decision-makers
to enable them to identify, measure and visualize EPIs on business process models.
2 Intended Solution
I am developing a method to identify, measure and visualize EPIs on top of existing
business process models by designing and evaluating two artefacts: a) a modelling no-
tation to visualize EPIs on process models, which I refer to throughout this document
as the “EPI process notation”, and b) a method to identify, measure and use the EPI as
a process notation.
3 Background Literature
From a BPM standpoint, process modelling focuses on effective visualization of com-
plex business and system processes to communicate the business activities and relevant
resources and information with individuals and for documentation of the processes in a
complex organizational setting. Process modelling aims human understanding and
adoption of the technical and organizational activities of a business to reach operational
performance. Similarly, visualization of EPIs on process models targets human under-
standing of the environmental impact of the technical and organizational activities of a
business to achieve environmental performance objectives and to facilitate change to-
wards processes with less environmental impact. I systematically identified and re-
viewed relevant Green BPM [12] literature and analyzed it based on its contributions
to ES. I conducted another systematic and tool-supported literature review on three sets
of Green IT, Green IS and BPM literature, looking for core EPIs and relevant contribu-
tions. Exploring the studies in Green IS literature indicated a broad range from design-
ing suitable information systems, to extending methods and frameworks for Green IS
[13], measuring and monitoring performance and energy efficiency of an information
system and motivating the need for integrated systems that involve Green concepts
[14]. Several literature reviews [15-17] identified and classified the majority of studies
in Green IS as conceptual studies focusing on introduction and discussion of benefits
of ES in IS and suggested further investigation into applicability and successful imple-
mentation and execution of proposed Green IS techniques. I conducted a third system-
atic and tool-supported review on Green BPM literature to identify the different types
of theoretical contributions [2] 1. Research in Green BPM literature has scarcely ad-
dressed the problem raised above, even though the problem is considered critical for
industry. Indeed, Green BPM research has more to offer to stay relevant to the needs of
industry [2, 18, 19].
1 An updated and extended version of this paper is currently under review in the Australasian
Journal of Information Systems (AJIS)
3
4 Theoretical underpinnings
Business process modelling is a technique that uses words and graphics to visualize
business process information for process users. The cognitive theory of multimedia
learning (CTML) [20] explains how process users understand better when presented
with process models which are visual representations of business processes. CTML
[20] serves as a background theory informing the effective presentation of EPI process
notation using words and graphics. Based on CTML [20], the EPI process notation
needs to be enriched with textual descriptions, in order to improve cognitive processing
and understanding of the information. However, CTML does not provide guidelines on
the design of notations. Therefore, I use guidelines from the physics of notations theory
[21] to define syntactic, semantic, pragmatic and semiotic specifications of EPIs and,
therefore, effectively design and evaluate visualized EPI process notation. Effective-
ness for visual notations is described by Moody [21] and Larkin and Simon [22] as
cognitive effectiveness, which is the human mind’s speed, ease and accuracy in pro-
cessing visual representations. In addition to the above theories, to develop a meaning-
ful measurement scale for decision-makers in regard to EPIs on business processes, I
use fuzzy set theory [23], which is a mathematical approach to overcome ambiguity in
decisions made regarding the environmental impact of the activities and processes.
5 Methodology
Design theory [24] and design science [25] guide the overarching methodology of this
research. I am using a multi-perspective approach in my design science methodology
and address design theory in two dimensions: main and additional components of IS
Design Theory (ISDT) [24] is guiding the construction process of my artefacts. ISDT
will inform and explain the process of construction. Design Relevant Explanatory/Pre-
dictive Theory (DREPT) by Kuechler and Vaishnavi [26] is used to explain how and
why the developed artefacts work the way they do. I have designed my research phases
in five iterative steps, following steps [27]: awareness of the problem, suggestion, de-
velopment, evaluation and reflection; with an emphasis on future modifications of the
solution where needed and as proposed by Arnott [28]. I refer to design as a logical
process that involves revising the theory and the objective of the design throughout the
design process [29]. I present the state of the constructs in my DS process in a model
consisting D (Description of current design candidate), K (Knowledge available) and P
(Properties of current design candidate or specifications). If I have a D and K, then P,
the properties of current design specifications, could be deducted. Through the phases
of design, new states for Design candidate (D’) is achieved, if new Knowledge (K’) and
new Properties (P’) are developed. To evaluate the design science artefacts and the de-
veloped solution, a preliminary case study has been conducted. Several interviews are
being conducted with domain experts in hospitality, in conceptual modelling and envi-
ronmental auditors. The interviews are designed to inform the EPI process notation
design, according to design principles in the physics of notation [21]. In addition, action
4
design research will be conducted to evaluate the effectiveness [31] of the design sci-
ence artefacts in the context of problem domain: hospitality industry.
The hospitality industry has been the largest of the business sectors in the world econ-
omy since the 1990s. It has been a fast-growing sector worldwide [30], it is known for
its high consumption of natural resources and energy[31] and therefore is under pres-
sure to reduce its environmental impact. This pressure, together with societal expecta-
tions and community pressure from customers [32], financial gain [33], environmental
regulatory organizations [34], market competition [35] and gaining unique competitive
advantage [36] have all led the hotel industry to attract much research and practice
interest in ES [37]. Findings from first round of case studies indicated that the existing
methods do not reflect the environmental efficiency of operations and therefore, hotels
are unable to measure, improve and manage the environmental impact on operational
level.
6 Project state
In transition from the awareness to the suggestion phase of the project, I conducted a
case study on five medium-large sized hotels using interviews and document analysis
methods. Prevalent findings confirmed the identified problem that although there are
internal programs, operational efforts and certifications being adopted by hotels to man-
age their environmental objectives, hotels still experience challenges in identifying,
measuring, analyzing, benchmarking, communicating and monitoring the environmen-
tal impact of their operational areas. The interview questions covered several concepts
categorized as 1) ES as competitive advantage; 2) environmental performance objec-
tives for organizations; 3) controlled use of environmental resources by measuring,
controlling and monitoring the EPIs; 4) planning, communication and motivation for
ES in hotel operations; 5) employee awareness regarding ES practices; and 6) BPM.
All hotels appreciated ES as source of competitive advantage, while most participants
had no clear definition for environmental objectives, nor had an external auditor to li-
aise with in order to reduce their environmental impact. Surprisingly, I found the com-
plete absence of BPM initiatives in interviewed hotels. A first draft of the EPI notation
is developed using business process model and notation (BPMN) and EPI notation con-
structs. In the current phase of design process, EPI process notation is being presented
to domain experts in hospitality, conceptual modelling and environmental auditors in
order to collect opinions about the design aspects. The identification and measurement
of EPIs is being developed using a fuzzy logic approach [38] and will be evaluated
through the cycles of design and evaluation. In the reflection phase, I intend to reflect
on the contribution of this research and the rigor and relevance of the conducted re-
search and designed artefacts. Moreover, I will revisit the knowledge contribution to
design theory. My PhD project is expected to be completed and submitted by July of
2021.
5
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