Modelling Organisational Behavior with Process Reference Models

Abstract

Process Reference Models are traditionally used to specify the hard or easily identifiable ICT components such as Databases, Applications, Systems and Infrastructure. More difficult to describe are the softer or more intangible aspects of a modern organization, for example leadership, innovation and competencies / capabilities. This paper proposes a new approach for defining and categorizing the activities of Leadership within the modern Organization. The approach emerges from the Process Reference Model that can be generalized across domains. This approach has the potential to extend and streamline the development of the process, strategy and management layers within the modern organisation. This new category of process model is termed a Reference Model of Organisational Behavior (RMOB). These are fully conformant with the requirements for Process Reference Models, as prescribed by ISO/IEC 244774 and ISO/IEC 15504. The RMOB has all the strength and flexibility of these robust Software Engineering tools, coupled with the ability to describe in process terms what was previously considered too difficult to describe. Furthermore a reliable assessment model can be derived that allows for objective capability assessments to be performed.