Main Components Of Process Virtualization Theory

Published Date: 02 Nov 2017

We see there is exponentially increasing in the advent of web technology for virtualizing the processes which were done manually. Today most of the tasks are done remotely through online which was conducted physically. As we can see many processes like online banking and ATM, Online shopping, Distance learning have been virtualized from conventional method. The phenomenon of "process virtualization" helps to know which processes can be virtualized. This is evolution of the web technology has virtualized many processes. Many raised a question like what re the factors influencing the process of virtualization. The Process virtualization theory provides four major concepts (sensory requirement, relationship requirement, synchronism requirement and, identification and control requirement) which help to determine whether the given process can be virtualized. The impact of information technology of technology has influenced the virtualization of the process. Further the paper explains the three alleviator component like richness, reach and monitoring capabilities which has advanced the process of virtualization. This advance in process virtualization theory is influencing more virtualization of the day to day processes.

Introduction

In the era electronics and information technology the world is shrinking with the technologies like electronic mails, video-calling and instant messaging etc. Few decades back same tasks were done manually. The conversion of tasks from manually to virtually is done for ease of the folks. For an instance, the conventional way of banking is over taken by virtualized way of banking (i.e online banking and ATM). The functions like depositing, withdrawing and transferring are not using conventional method of personally visiting bank every time to deposit withdraw or transfer money. The evolution of electronics and information technology has led to the ease the task of the every individual and save their time. The conventional method is amplified with virtual method or completely replaced by virtual method which assist the customer on location and also online. On similar line, consider another example of instant messaging which is latest trend of communicating with friends and relatives instantly who are distant away (Shapiro and

Varian 1998). The interaction between shopkeeper and customer in retail store for suggesting the commodities is augmented with online shopping where one need not visit store physically. The acceptance rate of virtualization of physically performed task is increasing.

Yesteryear there were many processes which society was rigid to accept in virtualized form. As the years passed off society has accepted the virtualized mechanism of most of the processes. And most of the processes are successfully working virtually to assist everyone. Eventually there are few processes which have been rejected to be virtualized.

Definitions of the terms used frequently in the paper.

Process can be defined as the series of activities undertaken to achieve required task. Physical process can be defined as the human interaction with object or with another human. Similarly virtual process can be defined as the totally eliminating the human interaction to achieve the task (Fiol and O’Connor 2005). The Process virtualization can be defined as the transformation of physical process into virtual process.

Examples below will make you better understand the terms.

Process

Physical Process

Virtual Process

Shopping

Shopping at store

Electronic Commerce

Formal education

At educational institute

Distance learning

Banking

Visiting Bank

Online banking

Friendship

Meeting in person

E-mail, online chatting

Literature Review

Why process virtualization theory?

The researchers have found that few processes need to be virtualized for betterment of the society. This theory is been important step into the information technology (Mesch and Talmud 2006, Walther and Burgoon 1992). This theory reduced the human-to-human interaction. For instance, human teller is virtualized by Automatic teller machine, this was an essential task. ATM eliminated the interaction with an individual, which in turn reduced the manual task of bank employee. The virtualization has ceased the constraints and requirement (Zuboff 1988). Major problem with physical process was to follow the human rules and regulation. Taking above example of ATM, there is no time constraint for Withdraw and deposit of the money.

Process Virtualization Theory

The process virtualization theory describes the how task can be conducted without manual interaction. It also explains how the factors influence the virtualization of the process. Few virtualized processes are completely accepted by society like distance learning and online banking(Moore and Kearsley 1996). But online shopping is been accepted to some extent. For example to buy perfumes online is not sensible Davenport and Beers (1995,p. 57).

The main factors which decide the virtualization of physical process are 1)sensory requirement 2) relationship requirement 3) synchronism requirement and 4)identification and control requirement. These factors play major role in judging whether the process is befitted to be virtualized from manual dealt process. As earlier stated the degree of each requirement should be low to be successfully converting the process into virtual process. But this certainly doesn’t mean that if the degree of the requirement is low then process cannot be virtualized. Indeed, the factors draw a conclusion that these requirements are solely responsible to interpret the how supremely the process can be virtualized.

Main components of Process virtualization theory

Sensory Requirements (R1) The foremost requirement of process virtualization is sensory requirement. This component helps to provide total functionality of the human sensing like taste touch smell etc. Proposition S1 can be stated as, higher the value of sensory requirement, less favorable is the process virtualization.

Relationship Requirements (R2)

The second component in the process of virtualization is relationship requirement which is help in interaction with one another in society. As the proposition S2 can be defined as, higher the value of relationship requirement, less favorable is the process virtualization.

Synchronism requirements (S3)

The third most component in the required in the process of virtualization is synchronism requirements. It quotes that the quantity of the activities for process has quick occurrence with optimal delay.

Control and Identification Requirements (S4)

The forth component to enhance the process virtualization is identification and control requirements which can be stated as to have unique identification for process. The proposition for control and identification requirement can be stated as higher the value for control and identification requirement lower is the chance for process virtualization.

In addition, the alleviator components like monitoring, reach and richness potency enhance the operation of virtualization of the physical process. They mitigated components assist in binding the two requirements. To enumerate richness component builds the connection between sensory requirement and relationship requirement to upgrade the virtualization phenomenon.

Function of Alleviator component in the operation of the virtualization

Sensory Requirement

Relationship Requirement

Synchronism Requirement

Identification and control requirement

Richness

Hand-operated actions are electronically automated

Supreme portfolio helps to identify user with identical need

Reach

Advance involvement provide extreme relationship opportunities

Provide synchronous functioning from different region

Monitoring

Augment the participation and access of the resource

Discussion

The Theory of Process virtualization, decide which process is suitable for virtualization. There are four factors like sensory, synchronism sensory, identification and control requirements which place major role in identifying the process to be virtualized. Higher the value for the requirement, least favorable is to virtualize the process.

Conclusion

Conclusion

Alike any other theory, the theory of process virtualization is advantageous if done by empirical testing. This theory helps to discuss the impact of main components and secondary variable in virtualization the process. Considering the control and identification requirement are more useful than sensory requirement. Although the reverse of this analyses can also be true. Empirical testing will help to research on new relations, component and supporting variables. This is the way researches modify existing theory. There are wide examples like distance learning, social networking, instant messaging and in which empirical theory have been beneficial to research in this field. The success of the electronic commerce is solely because of the empirical theory.

Since new theories and technologies evolve to facilitate the better functioning of the existing theory. Every process has to be upgraded when required. Many questions have been raised, one of them is, in future what if all the physical process will be transformed into virtual process. The process virtualization will decide which process to be virtualized and also provide information about which process will be maintenance/upgrade free for longer time. The factors associated with the process virtualization theory emphasis on constraint satisfaction. Lower the value for requirement, more feasible is the task for virtualization. Hence the need of process virtualization has been increase in every sector for assisting the society.