The novel idea of inter-enterprise architecture from the enterprise engineering perspective \nallows collaborative networks to integrate and coordinate different organizations. Therefore, \ninter-enterprise architecture offers multiple benefits, including: joint process harmonization, \nbusiness strategy and information technology alignment, technological cost reduction, risk and \nredundancies reduction, customer services improvement and enhanced responsiveness. Interenterprise \narchitecture can be used to solve the different issues that collaborative networks face \non a daily basis. A conceptual model that addresses the problem of unexpected events management \nin the context of hierarchical production planning to improve decision-making in collaborative \nenvironments is proposed using inter-enterprise architecture. The proposed conceptual \nmodel is composed of a framework, a modeling language and the methodology. The conceptual \nmodel has been applied to a Spanish collaborative network from the ceramic tile sector. \n© 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Cognitive informatics (CI) is the transdisciplinary enquiry of cognitive and information sciences that investigates into the internal information processing mechanisms and processes of the brain and natural intelligence, and their engineering applications via an interdisciplinary approach. CI develops a coherent set of fundamental theories and denotational mathematics, which form the foundation for most information and knowledge based science and engineering disciplines such as computer science, cognitive science, neuropsychology, systems science, cybernetics, software engineering, knowledge engineering, and computational intelligence. This paper reviews the central doctrine of CI and its applications. The theoretical framework of CI is described on the architecture of CI and its denotational mathematic means. A set of theories and formal models of CI is presented in order to explore the natural and computational intelligence. A wide range of applications of CI are described in the areas of cognitive computers, cognitive properties of knowledge, simulations of human cognitive behaviors, cognitive complexity of software, autonomous agent systems, and computational intelligence.

A variety of life functions and cognitive processes (CPs) have been identified in cognitive informatics, psychology, cognitive science, and neurophilosophy. This paper attempts to develop a layered reference model of the brain (LRMB) that formally and rigorously explains the functional mechanisms and CPs of natural intelligence. A comprehensive and coherent set of mental processes and their relationships is identified in LRMB that encompasses 37 CPs at six layers known as the sensation, memory, perception, action, metacognitive, and higher cognitive layers from the bottom-up. The LRMB reference model provides an integrated framework for modeling the brain and the mind. LRMB also enables future extension and refinement of the CPs within the same hierarchical framework. LRMB can be applied to explain a wide range of physiological, psychological, and cognitive phenomena in cognitive informatics, particularly the relationships and interactions between the inherited and the acquired life functions, as well as those of the subconscious and conscious CPs.

A survey has been designed to seek the practical foundation of base process activities (BPAs) in the software industry and to support research in modelling the software engineering processes. A superset of BPAs compatible with the current software process models, such as SPICE (ISO 15504), CMM, ISO 9000 and BOOTSTRAP, were identified for the construction of the questionnaires. This paper reports the survey findings on BPAs in software engineering processes. A summary of the current software engineering process techniques and practices modelled by 83 BPAs in 10 processes and three categories is given. Each BPA is benchmarked on attributes of mean importance and ratios of significance, practice and effectiveness. Based on the benchmarks, and by comparing with the current practice of the reader's organization, recommendations can be given on which specific areas need to have processes established first, and which areas should be highest priority for process improvement.