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  • © 2020

Enterprise Ontology

A Human-Centric Approach to Understanding the Essence of Organisation

  • Details the foundations of enterprise ontology by presenting and discussing its underlying theories
  • Includes numerous exercises and practical applications
  • Provides unprecedented deep insight into and broad overview over complex organisational transformations

Part of the book series: The Enterprise Engineering Series (TEES)

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Table of contents (20 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xxiv
  2. Part I

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1
    2. A History of Organisation and ICT

      • Jan L. G. Dietz, Hans B. F. Mulder
      Pages 3-7
    3. Introduction to Enterprise Engineering

      • Jan L. G. Dietz, Hans B. F. Mulder
      Pages 9-12
    4. Introduction to Enterprise Ontology

      • Jan L. G. Dietz, Hans B. F. Mulder
      Pages 13-19
  3. Part II

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 21-21
    2. The Enterprise Engineering Theories

      • Jan L. G. Dietz, Hans B. F. Mulder
      Pages 23-48
    3. The FI Theory: Understanding Factual Knowledge and Information

      • Jan L. G. Dietz, Hans B. F. Mulder
      Pages 49-70
    4. The MU Theory: Understanding Models and Modelling

      • Jan L. G. Dietz, Hans B. F. Mulder
      Pages 71-94
    5. The TAO Theory: Understanding Function and Construction

      • Jan L. G. Dietz, Hans B. F. Mulder
      Pages 95-117
    6. The PSI Theory: Understanding the Operation of Organisations

      • Jan L. G. Dietz, Hans B. F. Mulder
      Pages 119-157
    7. The DELTA Theory: Understanding Discrete Event Systems

      • Jan L. G. Dietz, Hans B. F. Mulder
      Pages 159-191
    8. The OMEGA Theory: Understanding the Construction of Organisations

      • Jan L. G. Dietz, Hans B. F. Mulder
      Pages 193-225
    9. The ALPHA Theory: Understanding the Essence of Organisations

      • Jan L. G. Dietz, Hans B. F. Mulder
      Pages 227-257
  4. Part III

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 259-259
    2. The DEMO Methodology

      • Jan L. G. Dietz, Hans B. F. Mulder
      Pages 261-299
    3. Exercise: Case Fixit

      • Jan L. G. Dietz, Hans B. F. Mulder
      Pages 301-310
    4. Exercise: Case Pizzeria

      • Jan L. G. Dietz, Hans B. F. Mulder
      Pages 311-322
    5. Exercise: Case Rent-A-Car

      • Jan L. G. Dietz, Hans B. F. Mulder
      Pages 323-348
    6. Exercise: Case Library

      • Jan L. G. Dietz, Hans B. F. Mulder
      Pages 349-366

About this book

Enterprise ontology is one of the conceptual pillars of enterprise engineering, next to enterprise design and enterprise governance, together accomplishing the goals of intellectual manageability, organisational concinnity and social devotion. By revealing the essence of an enterprise’s organisation, enterprise ontology addresses business processes, data and rules in a fundamental and truly integrated way. In addition, it provides deep insight into and broad overview over complex organisational transformations.


The book is divided into three parts. Part A is an introduction in enterprise engineering and enterprise ontology. Part B explores the theories underlying enterprise ontology, explaining the foundations of each theory, the elaborations in practical methods and techniques, and the relationships with other comparable approaches. Part C presents the practical application of the theories. It includes a comprehensive summary of the DEMO methodology and the DEMO specification language, as well as exercises and applications of DEMO in various business areas. It also features a chapter on combining DEMO with comparable approaches to modelling business processes, data and rules, to the benefit of the latter.


Discussing the theoretical foundations of enterprise ontology and its practical applications in equal measure, this book is the principal textbook in courses on enterprise engineering. Since it unites elements from management science and information systems engineering, it is also relevant to students and professionals in either field.   


Authors and Affiliations

  • Voorburg, The Netherlands

    Jan L.G. Dietz

  • The Hague, The Netherlands

    Hans B. F. Mulder

About the authors

Jan L.G. Dietz is Emeritus Professor at Delft University of Technology, and Visiting Professor at the University of Lisbon and the Czech Technical University in Prague. He is the spiritual father of DEMO (Design & Engineering Methodology for Organisations), one of the founders of the Enterprise Engineering Institute, and the founder of the Ciao! Enterprise Engineering Network. His academic work has always focused on applying research outcomes in practice. 


Hans B.F. Mulder is an entrepreneur and founder of Viagroep nv, Research Director at the Standish Group, Executive Professor at the Antwerp Management School and lecturer at the Police Academy of the Netherlands. He is regularly engaged as an IT expert when conflicts between companies need to be resolved in or out of court, such as participating in arbitration, mediation and expert reports.  


Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 109.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 149.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 139.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access