title: In search of a general enterprise model
abstract: Many organisations, particularly SMEs, are reluctant to invest time and money in models to support decision making. Such reluctance could be overcome if a model could be used for several purposes rather than using a traditional "single perspective" model. This requires the development of a "general enterprise model" (GEM), which can be applied to a wide range of problem domains with unlimited scope. Current enterprise modelling frameworks only deal effectively with nondynamic modelling issues whilst dynamic modelling issues have traditionally only been addressed at the operational level. Although the majority of research in this area relates to manufacturing companies, the framework for a GEM must be equally applicable to service and public sector organisations. The paper identifies five key design issues that need to be considered when constructing a GEM. A framework for such a GEM is presented based on a "plug and play" methodology and demonstrated by a simple case study
keyphrases: general enterprise model SMEs decision making GEM problem domains enterprise modelling frameworks dynamic modelling issues operational level public sector organisations case study business process re-engineering single perspective model service sector organisations plug and play methodology