enterprise map (i.e., the value chain network model) is the graphical product flow
diagram generated using INCOME Process Designer. SCOR metrics and other
performance measures can be identified, implemented, and monitored. This type of
value chain intelligence and visibility, as supported our earlier literature review,
empowers supply chain managers with the information to be proactive. All
implemented functionality is accessed through a web interface called the i-SCOR
SCM-C3. Executives and other stakeholders can personalize this web portal for supply
chain visibility.
6.3 Proactive value chain management with the Oracle E-Business Suite and other
enterprise applications
As noted, the INCOME KB methodology facilitates effective deployment of end-to-end
business processes that are enabled by the Oracle E-Business Suite. We also discussed
the value that integrated packaged software provides in terms of tracking resources
and planning how resources should be utilized. The i-SCOR methodology provides
SEM and decision support functionality using reliable, real-time data extracted from
enterprise applications. Shah et al. (2002) provide justification for bringing these
research streams together, and one of our contributions is a product-based merging of
SCM with enterprise information systems. When the selected enterprise application is
the Oracle E-Business Suite, the INCOME KB provides a direct mapping to the relevant
data sources to support process oriented performance management. The business
processes in other standard software or legacy systems could be mapped to their
relevant data source, hence offering described benefits. However, the monitoring
engine must be configured, and this is a challenge. In both cases, BPM is supported by
process-based performance metrics at the SCOR level.
7. An i-SCOR example
In this section, we provide an example of how the i-SCOR methodology is actually
applied. For reference purposes, a high-level view of the i-SCOR architecture is
produced in Figure 10.
Figure 10 is instructive in showing how the i-SCOR KB provides the linkage
between the SCOR model and the Oracle E-Business Suite. This linkage is the critical
contribution of this research that provides the capability to automate data extraction.
Figure 11 shows the top-level of the SCOR model in INCOME process designer,
focusing on source, make, and deliver.
For example, purposes, the “Source” object is decomposed to Level 2. This is shown
in Figure 12.
At this level, the manufacturing orientation of the SCOR model is evident in the
three types of products for sourcing: purchased make-to-order (MTO), and
Engineer-to-Order (ETO). Any of the SCOR objects could be decomposed in the
same way as the “Source” object, eventually yielding a complete representation of the
SCOR model in INCOME Process Designer. As previously mentioned, the i-SCOR KB
contains this complete representation. We continue the example by selecting the
“Source Purchased Product” object and decomposing it to Level 3. The resulting model
is shown in Figure 13.
Level 3 is the lowest level in the SCOR model, and the process elements (e.g. Receive
Product) is then integrated into the Oracle E-Business Suite using the i-SCOR KB. The
KB alignment/integration is shown in Figure 14. The linkage to the Oracle E-Business
Suite is accomplished in this step, which for this example is a linkage to “Schedule
Product Deliveries.”
The SCOR Level 4 as it ties to the “generic” enterprise application processes is
shown in Figure 15
As a final step the mapping can be extended to the data element level for the
automated extraction of the relevant data from the E-Business Suite production
database. This final mapping is shown in Figure 16.
The data is now available for aggregating in accordance with the KPIs provided
with the SCOR model. The i-SCOR mapping may not provide complete data, since it is
dependent on the configuration of the E-Business Suite, but given the completeness
of the Oracle product, this limitation is not constraining. If one were relegated to
the legacy environment, each mapping would be unique and the data still may be
unavailable. So, one is better off by far with high quality data being extracted from the