Optimistic integration of enterprise information systems

The integration of Enterprise Information Systems (EIS) is one of the most important, yet challenging tasks. Unfortunately, there is very few IT-integration implemented by small and medium sized enterprises (SME). In the analysis of SME B2B Integration Iiterature we identify three important inhibitors: high costs, Iack of adequate consultancy modes, and unsuitable technical structures. We thus design the paradigm of optimistic integration and show how it is applied in a novel loosely coupled integration architecture. The integration architecture VIANA resembles the organizational structure of SME value networks addressing all three inhibitors. VIANA is evaluated with participants of SME value networks. Further, we experimentally evaluate the viability of our techniques by integrating commercial EIS and measure its run-time behavior. In this we follow the design science approach.