A Multi-supplier Collaborative Monitoring Framework for Informatics System of Systems
Abstract
Managing interdependent cooperating informatics systems from multiple suppliers is a complex and challenging endeavor. Due to the lack of complete open standards, informatics systems from different suppliers are developed using incompatible protocols and programmatic interfaces (API). Often, incompatibilities also exist for informatics systems developed by the same supplier. Nevertheless, organizations must be able to monitor the systems that compose their Information Technology (IT) landscape transparently and independently of each system’s supplier. This paper discusses a collaborative networks strategy associated with adopting the Informatics System of Systems (ISoS) framework for coordinated monitoring and support afforded by different supplying responsibilities. We argue that the adopted model simplifies the integration required by the digital, and makes efficient the collaboration among technology and service suppliers in supporting products’ life cycle maintenance and evolution. Accordingly, we discuss the implementation of the proposed model in the HORUS project, which is motivated by the need to rethink a fuelling post-payment model of a petroleum company.