© Institut für Wirtschaftsinformatik, Universität des Saarlandes MARVIN (CO) MARVIN Kick-Off, Oslo 18./ Presentation WP 3 Clemens Odendahl Institute for Information Systems (IWi) University of Saarland Saarbrücken, Germany

© Institut für Wirtschaftsinformatik, Universität des Saarlandes MARVIN (CO) Structure of the presentation Virtual Enterprises: Definition and Contents Communication in Virtual Enterprises and its consequences for MARVIN DEVICE: Prototype of an electronic cooperation exchange for Virtual Enterprises Intelligent Software Agents and its application in MARVIN Outlook

© Institut für Wirtschaftsinformatik, Universität des Saarlandes MARVIN (CO) Definition of a Virtual Enterprise A Virtual Enterprise is a cooperation form of legally independent Enterprises, institutions and/or individuals, who produce goods and services on the basis of a common understanding of business. The cooperating entities participating in the horizontal and/or vertical cooperation mainly with their core competencies and appear opposite third parties as one company. Nevertheless there is no real institutionalisation of central manage- ment functions for organising, guiding and developing the Virtual Enterprise. The necessary requirement of coordination and adjust ent is done via suitable information and communication systems. The Virtual Enterprise is connected with a special mission and ends with this mission.

© Institut für Wirtschaftsinformatik, Universität des Saarlandes MARVIN (CO) Virtualisation Directions

© Institut für Wirtschaftsinformatik, Universität des Saarlandes MARVIN (CO) Business Networks Large-scale enterprise Small- or medium-scale enterprise

© Institut für Wirtschaftsinformatik, Universität des Saarlandes MARVIN (CO) Decentral vs. Integrated Communication

© Institut für Wirtschaftsinformatik, Universität des Saarlandes MARVIN (CO) Communication in MARVIN

© Institut für Wirtschaftsinformatik, Universität des Saarlandes MARVIN (CO) Life Cycle of a Virtual Enterprise

© Institut für Wirtschaftsinformatik, Universität des Saarlandes MARVIN (CO) DEVICE Cooperation Exchange for Virtual Enterprises

© Institut für Wirtschaftsinformatik, Universität des Saarlandes MARVIN (CO) Selection of the Participants

© Institut für Wirtschaftsinformatik, Universität des Saarlandes MARVIN (CO) Concept of a system provider

© Institut für Wirtschaftsinformatik, Universität des Saarlandes MARVIN (CO) Software Agents Agent = autonomous, intelligent unit, which precepts environmental information via sensors, processes this information and then executes actions via effectors. agent human agent robotic agentsoftware agent web agent mobilestationary

© Institut für Wirtschaftsinformatik, Universität des Saarlandes MARVIN (CO) System Architecture

© Institut für Wirtschaftsinformatik, Universität des Saarlandes MARVIN (CO) Object communication

© Institut für Wirtschaftsinformatik, Universität des Saarlandes MARVIN (CO) Integration Function

© Institut für Wirtschaftsinformatik, Universität des Saarlandes MARVIN (CO) Definition of Workflow Generally, it is not possible to administer an entire business process with one application software system. a variety of systems (for sales, purchasing, manufacturing or accounting) Even integrated standard application packages have gaps which have to be filled by custom systems or standard applications from other vendors. None of these systems is individually capable of determining the status of the entire process (for example, every processing state of a particular order). It therefore makes sense to allocate the responsibility for comprehensive process control to an explicit system level rather than distributing it across several systems. This level is called workflow

© Institut für Wirtschaftsinformatik, Universität des Saarlandes MARVIN (CO) Business Agent

© Institut für Wirtschaftsinformatik, Universität des Saarlandes MARVIN (CO) Intra-organizational Communication Inter-organizational Communication AB Enterprise Plant Department Workplace... Transfer of the Leitstand Concept to Enterprise Networks Multistage Distributed Leitstand Organization

© Institut für Wirtschaftsinformatik, Universität des Saarlandes MARVIN (CO) The Manufacturer as Supplier Source: LOGISTIK HEUTE, July 1998 Whether Made in Germany or Made in Finland in the end there is the same model of the new Boxster

© Institut für Wirtschaftsinformatik, Universität des Saarlandes MARVIN (CO) Supply Chain Network Producer Line A Producer-Independent Line Producer Line B Sub-Supply Layer Supply Layer Manufacturing Layer Distribution Layer Future competition forces the interconnection between Supply Chains

© Institut für Wirtschaftsinformatik, Universität des Saarlandes MARVIN (CO) Sketch of the MARVIN Architecture

© Institut für Wirtschaftsinformatik, Universität des Saarlandes MARVIN (CO) Success Criterias End Results: realistic goals user friendly meet markets needs Process: follow the plan (project programme) good interaction between the partners (web site) marketing of the project and its results during process of the project

© Institut für Wirtschaftsinformatik, Universität des Saarlandes MARVIN (CO) Risks IMPORTANT: Sharing of the vision! (common understanding) What can be done and what will be the result? What can not be done? We need good and intensive communication with end-user! (is one ship-owner enough?)