Semiotics-based manufacturing systems integration in the advent of a single electronic market

Abstract

Social and organisational semiotics seek to understand organisations based on the use of signs, documents and communication, and how information can be best used in the scope of organised activities and business domains. This theoretical approach was the ground for a study conducted by a European Commission project envisioning the single integrated information space, where MIS is focal working towards a seamless intra/internet-based structured space for dynamic and value-adding collaboration purposes. Characterised by the semiotics perspective, this paper evaluates at technological level the ATHENA framework for systems interoperability, complemented by non-Technological Interoperability Metrics (nT-IM). Then, based on such results it analyses the vision of stakeholders and concludes with considerations on MSI in the advent of the single electronic market, discussing the correlation of the technical framework and non-technical interoperability measurement indicators with semiotic levels and theories for MIS, identifying the principal challenges for MSI when characterised by the semiotic levels according to the stakeholders recognised issues, as a wider framework for managing integrated complex information systems.

Keywords:

• systems integration
• semiotic levels
• single information space
• social and organisational semiotics
• interoperability measurement

Acknowledgements

The authors' thanks go to the European Commission, which funded and supported the SEEMseed project IST-1-502512-STP (Study, Evaluate, and Explore in the Domain of the Single Electronic European Market), and the SEEMseed project partners, and especially those colleagues who contributed to the preparation of the book, ‘The Road for SEEM: A Reference Framework Towards a Single European Electronic Market’. The authors also would like to thank the Fundação da Ciência e Tecnologia for funding our research units.