Enhancing situational awareness on fragmented information in complex systems with workflow information network analysis

Abstract

In industrial contexts, information is usually fragmented into a complex network of organizations and systems. To develop their information management, the organizations need to obtain and maintain situational awareness of their workflows, and identify and understand relevant information and how the planned actions affect the system in the near future. This paper introduces Workflow Information Network Analysis, a managerial method for analysing and improving situational awareness in complex systems. The method is built on the principles of information management, product lifecycle management and value network analysis. A six-step process for applying the method is presented, and the validity of the method has been demonstrated with a case study in which the information flows of a networked aircraft maintenance organisation are analysed. The case study shows that the method enables the identification of discontinuities and bottlenecks in information flows, as well as produces suggestions for further development.