Cloud Requirements for Facilitating Business Collaboration: A Modeling Perspective

Abstract

This paper describes how to design systems that support large scale collaboration between enterprises on the cloud. To do this, the paper proposes an innovative modeling method for large scale collaboration. The modeling method identifies the collaborative spaces in the collaboration and describes ways to support the collaboration in cloud environments, including defining knowledge flows across system boundaries.

The modeling focuses on the ability to deploy the cloud to quickly create collaborative environments. Common access to the cloud makes it an enhancer of collaboration, especially across large business networks such as outsourcing or co-design and to support the agility needed in such collaboration. The paper proposes that cloud provides an advantage where it can foster the collaboration needed to maintain sustainable communities and defines the support needed from the cloud for collaboration. This is particularly relevant to smart cities and the greater emphasis on the Internet of things.

Keywords:

• collaboration
• cloud computing
• internet of things

Additional information

Notes on contributors

I. T. Hawryszkiewycz

Igor Hawryszkiewycz is head of the School of Systems, Management, and Leadership at the University of Technology, Sydney. He holds a Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Master of Engineering degree from the University of Adelaide. His research has been in design methods starting with databases systems, then information systems, and more recently on collaborative systems. These methods have been successfully applied to real problems, support for small business, and research planning at the World Health Organization. Dr. Hawryszkiewycz has produced over 200 research publications and five textbooks, one in its second and another in its fifth edition. His most recent book is Agile Business System Design: Using Information Technology to Create Business Value. Professor Hawryszkiewycz has held visiting positions at such universities as Maryland (College Park),Vienna, Ulm, Sydney, New South Wales, and Tilburg.