An Empirical Investigation of the Use of Goal and Process Modelling to Analyze API Ecosystem Design and Usage Workflow

Abstract

Grundfos develops different pumps and electronic devices for its customer around the world. Customers who use these products, do so with an application software to access the business assets of the company through an API (Application Programming Interface). The company wants to improve on its API management strategy which is expected to solve some of the bottlenecks they have in their current workflow. Our focus is to investigate how goal- and process models can be used to effectively capture dynamic and static aspects of an API ecosystem. We also investigate how the models can be improved for the purpose of analyzing an API ecosystem design. Four models were created, modelling the current and future workflow and API ecosystem design of the case company (one goal model and one process model for each scenario). To help answering the research questions, the models were analyzed using systematic forward goal model analysis. An evaluation of the models in terms of effectiveness and expressiveness was also addressed.