A framework for enterprise engineering

Successfully implementing enterprise strategic initiatives appears a daunting task since the majority of initiatives fail. This paper submits that the Enterprise Engineering theory and methodology offers a fruitful approach for avoiding failure. Based on viewing the enterprise as a system, the discussed enterprise engineering framework presents three central notions: 1) Enterprise Ontology which concerns the implementation-independent essence of an enterprise; 2) Enterprise Architecture guiding coherent and consistent enterprise design that can be implemented; 3) Operational Rules that define the execution of enterprise activities. These elements of the enterprise engineering framework are clarified and illustrated using a case example.