Authors:
Magido Mascate
and
André Vasconcelos
Affiliation:
INESC-ID, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida Rovisco Pais, 1, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
Keyword(s):
Enterprise Architecture, e-Business Reference Model, Digital Strategy, SME, e-Business Architecture.
Abstract:
Through the digital industry and economy, we find countless researches providing conceptual models aiming to depict digital technology adoption by different businesses. However, according to existing studies, we found that SMEs lack an e-business reference modelling framework that supports the design and adoption of digital-enabled business models. Therefore, we exploit an adaptive and technology-independent approach to propose an EA-based e-business reference modelling framework for SMEs in diverse business contexts. Our framework comprises mainly of three interrelated building blocks, starting with the 1) situational analysis to determine the motivating factors for change and barriers of the business environment; followed by SMEs profiling. The SMEs profiling embodies the 2) SMEs’ readiness depiction based on the existence of digital strategy, digital-value drivers’ catalogue, and business models proposals; and culminates with the 3) description of the implementation based on e-bus
iness architecture. In addition, a fourth building block is incorporated into the framework for e-Business solutions architecture, selection, and deployment into the current SMEs' business context. In this study, we assume a practical approach, proposing and demonstrating the application of tools that support the conception of an SMEsé-business in the business context in all the different facets of our framework.
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