
within the Process metaclass. In supply chain con-
texts, actors and organizations establish formal agree-
ments, which are represented and validated by this
metaclass.
The Contract metaclass is immutable; once final-
ized and loaded, it prohibits any modifications, ensur-
ing a unidirectional execution flow that preserves the
integrity of contractual agreements. It acts as a ledger,
managing, guiding, and enforcing all contract clauses
to ensure compliance throughout the supply chain.
This addresses a key challenge in reliably executing
complex supply chain processes. This metaclass is in-
fluenced by the BusinessVar and Event metaclasses,
enabling it to dynamically reflect business conditions
and respond to specific triggers. As such, contracts
can adapt to real-time events while maintaining en-
forcement of business rules.
Additionally, it is linked to the RiskAssessment
metaclass, which provides metrics for evaluating ac-
tors and processes. These assessments are supported
by historical data from OKR metaclasses, aligning
risk evaluation with strategic objectives and perfor-
mance metrics. This integration allows the Contract
metaclass to contribute to proactive risk management
and greater consistency with business goals.
Furthermore, the Contract metaclass is directly
linked to both SupplychainActor and Company
metaclasses, enabling the formalization and enforce-
ment of agreements at the individual and organiza-
tional levels. This ensures that obligations and com-
pliance are clearly defined and governed across the
supply chain. Additionally, OKR data support the
evaluation and selection of reliable partners, reinforc-
ing trust within the network.
The Product metaclass represents either inputs or
outputs of a Process, or both. Its role is defined by an
XOR constraint among hasI, hasO, and hasIO, ensur-
ing it assumes only one type within a process. Every
Process must involve at least one Product, as enforced
by cardinality rules, aligning with the core principles
of process-product relationships defined in (Garcia-
Garcia et al., 2020).
The Decision metaclass plays a strategic role by
guiding the Process based on OKRs, which are linked
to Metrics and Indicators. Indicators provide real-
time data that influence process execution, whereas
Metrics measure progress toward objectives. The De-
cision metaclass ensures that the actions taken dur-
ing the process align with organizational goals, creat-
ing a feedback loop that fosters data-driven and goal-
oriented execution.
The LogisticsAndSupplyChainProcess meta-
class plays a crucial role in managing and oversee-
ing supply chain operations, relying on ShipmentSta-
tusAndInventoryStatus for real-time tracking of ship-
ments and stock. The Event metaclass, which is
closely linked to this process and other key meta-
classes like RiskAssessment, OKR, and Contract,
drives dynamic responses to triggers, enabling proac-
tive risk management, contract enforcement, and
alignment with strategic goals within the supply
chain.
The Event metaclass plays a crucial role in col-
laborative business and supply chain contexts by
serving as a trigger for processes, workflows, and
decision-making. It is directly linked to Logistic-
sAndSupplyChainProcess, Process, RiskAssessment,
OKR, and Contract metaclasses. Events represent
both external conditions (e.g., supplier delivery de-
lays) and internal changes (e.g., stock reaching criti-
cal levels), initiating actions such as order reception
or risk detection, defining process preconditions, and
influencing performance goals and contractual terms.
Also, the BusinessVar is another metaclass that
has a direct association with the Process metaclass. In
fact, the BusinessVar metaclass defines dynamic vari-
ables associated with a single process, enabling adapt-
ability and decision-making. Linked to the Process
metaclass through aggregation, these variables drive
conditional logic, helping determine the next activity
based on their values. Acting as building blocks for
business rules, they ensure processes are flexible and
context-aware.
The ProcessElement metaclass, directly associ-
ated with the Process metaclass, forms the funda-
mental building block of workflows. It encapsulates
all elements within a process, serving as the back-
bone for constructing interconnected and dynamic
sequences. This metaclass branches into two spe-
cialized types: ControlElement and Activity, each
shaping the workflow’s structure and intent. The
Link metaclass connects ProcessElements, establish-
ing logical pathways that ensure seamless transitions
and coherent process flow.
The Activity metaclass defines the executable
tasks within a process, bridging intent and action. As
a specialization of ProcessElement, it not only per-
forms work but also updates business variables upon
completion. It includes four specialized subtypes:
(i) Order, representing commands that trigger activ-
ities; (ii) OrchestrationActivity, for automated sys-
tem tasks; (iii) ComplexActivity, enabling subpro-
cess integration for hierarchical process design; and
(iv) OperatorsActivity or HumanActivity, involving
tasks performed by individuals, highlighting human
roles in workflows. ComplexActivity is key in supply
chain and logistics, encapsulating logistics, transport
conditions, and inventory management subprocesses.
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