Towards a G.O.D. theory for Organisational Engineering: modelling the (re)Generation, Operation and Discontinuation of the enterprise

Abstract

Much time is lost in organisations in handling unknown exceptions because organisational models are not current or coherent with reality, and there is a lack of concepts and methods in Organisational Engineering (OE) for a continuous and timely update of models of organisational reality. To address these problems, a renowned methodology for OE – Design and Engineering Methodology for Organisations (DEMO) – is extended, enabling a precise and integrated modelling of three aspects that we consider to be part of the function perspective of an organisation: viability – norms of operation that ensure the viability of the organisation, dysfunctions and exceptions causing the dysfunctions; change – OE processes responsible for generation, operation and discontinuation of Organisational Artefacts (OAs) – e.g., business rules or organisational actors – to solve dysfunctions; architecture – design rules that guide the referred engineering processes, restricting the 'shape' of their end result – OAs.