Measuring the alignment between business processes and software systems: a case study

The alignment degree existing between a business process and the supporting software systems strongly affects the performance of the business process execution. Methods are needed for detecting this kind of alignment and keeping a business process aligned with a supporting software system even when one of the two evolves. Actually, any modification performed in the business process activities and/or supporting software systems may impact the process activities and/or software components, in terms of input/output and/or purpose and, therefore, cause misalignment. This paper proposes a framework including a set of metrics codifying the alignment concept with the aim of measuring it and detecting misalignment if it occurs. The application of the framework is explored through a case study. © 2010 ACM