A Visionary Way to Novel Process Optimization Techniques 
 
Norbert Gronau 
University of Potsdam, Germany 
norbert.gronau@wi.uni-potsdam.de 
 
Abstract:  Modern process optimization approaches do build on various qualitative and quantitative tools, but are mainly 
limited to simple relations in different process perspectives like cost, time or stock. In this keynote a new 
approach is presented, which focuses on techniques of the area of Artificial Intelligence to capture complex 
relations within processes. Hence, a fundamental value increase is intended to be gained. Existing modeling 
techniques and languages serve as basic concepts and try to realize the junction of apparently contradictory 
approaches. This keynote therefore draws a vision of promising future process optimization techniques and 
presents an innovative contribution. 
BRIEF BIOGRAPHY 
Univ.-Prof. Dr.-Ing. Norbert Gronau (born 1964) 
studied engineering and business administration at 
Berlin University of Technology. He got his Ph.D. in 
1994 and finished then his habilitation thesis in 
industrial information systems. Since more than ten 
years he holds the Chair of Business Informatics, esp. 
Processes and Systems at the University of Potsdam, 
Germany. His main research activities concentrate on 
the areas of knowledge management and process 
management, in private and public organizations. 
Together with the Potsdam Consulting Group, Prof. 
Gronau has supported a variety of small and large 
companies, by advising them. Prof. Gronau is editor 
of the scientific journals Industrie 4.0 Management, 
ERP Management, and Productivity Management. 
He is author of books on enterprise systems, 
knowledge management, and business process 
management, and also author of many research 
papers in those areas.  
  
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