A Case Study of Executive Functions in Real Process Modeling Sessions

• Published in: Advanced Information Systems Engineering Workshops Vol. 349; pp. 17 - 28
• Main Authors: Wilmont, Ilona, Barendsen, Erik, Hoppenbrouwers, Stijn
• Format: Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Springer International Publishing AG 2019; Springer International Publishing
• Series: Lecture Notes in Business Information Processing
• Subjects: Executive functions; Individual differences; Process modeling
• ISBN: 9783030209476; 3030209474
• ISSN: 1865-1348; 1865-1356
• DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-20948-3_2

Cognitive aspects like executive control functions, reasoning and abstraction have a crucial influence on modeling performance. Yet how are executive functions used in real modeling sessions and what individual differences exist? In this case study we analyse observations of three modeling sessions according to a coding scheme for behavioural observation of executive functions, reasoning and abstraction. We complement the findings with a qualitative, thick description of the sessions. We find that the modelers have unique styles in how they use executive control, that there appears to be a hierarchy in when specific executive functions are used, and that the use of executive control alone does not guarantee modeling progress. Greater awareness of the effects of executive control use in real modeling settings can be very helpful in training modelers to optimize their skills.