Obtaining informedness in collaborative networks through automated information provisioning: a modeling framework and active database system approach

Successful collaboration in business networks calls for well-informed network participants. Members who know about the many aspects of the network are an effective vehicle to successfully resolve conflicts, build a prospering collaboration climate and promote trust within the network. The importance of well-informed network participants has led to the concept of network participant informedness which is derived from existing theories and concepts for firm informedness. It is possible to support and develop well-informed network participants through a specialised IT-based active information provisioning service. This article presents a corresponding modelling framework and a rule-based approach for the active system capabilities required. Details of a prototype implementation building on concepts of the research area of active databases are also reported.