Interoperation evaluation framework

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is a key enabler for automating and optimizing process execution in process integration projects. Traditionally, business integration has a medium to long term horizon. However, with the introduction of the concepts of the Virtual Organisation and the Extended Enterprise this horizon is coming closer with the implication that business integration doesn´t pay off anymore. In order to overcome this new challenge semantics are applied to existing integration technologies. This leads to a new flexibility and hence to new opportunities for the trade-off of higher complexity. To handle this increased complexity and to manage the decision process new means to evaluate the economic business potential are required. This paper presents the interoperation evaluation framework (IEF) as an analysis tool for this purpose.