Dr Jamila Oukharijane | Business Process Management | Best Researcher Award

Research assistant, Faculty of Engineering, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Italy

Dr. Jamila Oukharijane is an accomplished academic and researcher specializing in autonomic adaptation of business processes and software engineering. With a strong educational foundation, she earned a Bachelor’s in Computing Management from the High Institute of Business Administration of Sfax, graduating as the best student in her class. She completed her Master’s and PhD in Information Systems and Computer Science at the University of Sfax in Tunisia, where her doctoral research focused on enhancing the adaptation of business processes through autonomic computing techniques. Dr. Oukharijane has taught at prestigious institutions in Tunisia and Morocco, contributing significantly to the education of future engineers. Her research has been presented at major international conferences, and she has published extensively on topics related to self-adaptive business processes, data mining, and real-time context monitoring. She is passionate about advancing computing systems that improve business efficiency and automation.

Profile

• Scopus
• Google Scholar
• Orcid

Strengths for the Award

1. Academic and Professional Background:
   • Dr. Oukharijane has a strong academic foundation with a Bachelor’s degree in Computing Management from the University of Sfax (Best student out of 120) and a Master’s degree in Information Systems and New Technologies. She completed her PhD in Computer Science in 2022, focusing on autonomic adaptation of business processes, which showcases her deep expertise in a highly specialized area of computer science.
2. Research Contributions:
   • Dr. Oukharijane’s research, particularly in the domain of self-adaptive business processes, has significantly contributed to the field of autonomic computing and business process management (BPMN). Her works, such as “Towards a New Adaptation Engine for Self-Adaptation of BPMN Process Instances” and “A Hybrid Approach for the Resolution of Adaptation Needs”, are innovative and address real-time adaptation of business processes, which is a critical need in today’s fast-evolving technological environment.
   • She has authored and co-authored multiple research papers in high-impact conferences such as the IEEE/ACS International Conference and International Business Information Management Association (IBIMA), contributing to the global body of knowledge in context-based adaptation, business process modeling, and self-adaptation techniques.
3. Teaching Experience:
   • Dr. Oukharijane has a strong teaching background with experience as a part-time professor at multiple respected institutions, including the National School of Applied Sciences of Khouribga and the Moroccan School of Engineering Sciences, where she taught courses related to software engineering, algorithms, and data structures. This demonstrates her ability to not only conduct research but also effectively communicate complex technical subjects to students, enhancing their practical and theoretical understanding.
4. Global Recognition and International Collaboration:
   • Her research has been presented at various prestigious international conferences, such as the IEEE International Conference, IBIMA, and ICSBT. These collaborations highlight her global impact and recognition within the academic community.
   • She has worked on collaborative research with esteemed professionals, such as I Ben Said, MA Chaabane, and R Bouaziz, which strengthens the credibility and influence of her research contributions.
5. Innovative Approach:
   • Her work on real-time context monitoring and adaptive systems for business processes is an emerging area with strong industrial relevance, addressing critical needs in automation, efficiency, and real-time decision-making for businesses.

Areas for Improvement

1. Broader Publication in High-Impact Journals:
   • While Dr. Oukharijane has published in notable conferences, there is an opportunity to target high-impact journals (e.g., ACM Computing Surveys, IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering) to increase the visibility and academic influence of her research. Publications in these journals would enhance her credibility and recognition within the academic community.
2. Diversity in Research Topics:
   • Dr. Oukharijane’s research, while highly specialized and technical, is primarily focused on business process management, self-adaptation, and autonomic computing. It might be beneficial for her to explore broader interdisciplinary research areas, such as integrating her work with emerging technologies like AI, machine learning, or blockchain to diversify her research portfolio and address cross-disciplinary challenges.
3. Industry Partnerships:
   • Although her research is highly theoretical and focused on software engineering, practical applications and industry collaborations could be enhanced. Building stronger ties with industry partners, such as IT companies or business process management firms, could help transition her research into practical solutions, enhancing its real-world impact.
4. Mentorship and Supervision:
   • As an academic, there may be opportunities for Dr. Oukharijane to increase her involvement in PhD supervision and mentoring junior researchers, which could further elevate her role as a leader in the academic community.

Education

Dr. Jamila Oukharijane completed her Bachelor’s in Computing Management at the High Institute of Business Administration of Sfax, University of Sfax, where she graduated as the top student among 120 peers. She pursued her Master’s in Information Systems and New Technologies at the Faculty of Economics Sciences and Management of Sfax, University of Sfax, graduating in 2017. Dr. Oukharijane then achieved her PhD in Computer Science in 2022 from the same institution, where her doctoral research focused on “Contributions to Autonomic Adaptation of Business Processes.” Her thesis delved into innovative methods for automating and optimizing business process management, particularly in dynamic environments. Throughout her academic journey, Dr. Oukharijane demonstrated an exceptional aptitude for blending theoretical knowledge with practical applications, positioning herself as a leading expert in business process management and self-adaptation. Her educational background reflects a deep commitment to advancing the field of computing systems and information technology.

Experience

Dr. Jamila Oukharijane brings extensive teaching and academic experience to her role as an educator and researcher. From 2019 to 2022, she served as a part-time professor at the High Institute of Business Administration of Sfax, University of Sfax, where she taught Bachelor’s level courses, primarily focusing on software engineering and data structures. In 2023, she broadened her academic contributions by joining the National School of Applied Sciences of Khouribga in Morocco as a part-time professor, teaching courses on .Net, software security, and DevOps to engineer students. Later in the same year, Dr. Oukharijane took on a full-time professor role at the Moroccan School of Engineering Sciences of Casablanca, where she taught algorithms and data mining. With experience across Tunisia and Morocco, Dr. Oukharijane has demonstrated her commitment to advancing engineering education while fostering international academic collaboration.

Research Focus

Dr. Jamila Oukharijane’s primary research focus is in the field of self-adaptive business processes, where she explores advanced methods for autonomic adaptation of business process management. Her research investigates techniques to enable real-time process adaptation in complex and dynamic environments, an essential aspect of modern business operations. By integrating context-based monitoring with self-adaptation mechanisms, Dr. Oukharijane aims to optimize business process performance and enhance process resilience. She is particularly interested in hybrid approaches that combine reuse techniques and AI-driven analytics for better decision-making. Her work on BPMN processes (Business Process Model and Notation) strives to create more efficient, adaptable, and intelligent systems capable of autonomously adjusting to changing business needs. Dr. Oukharijane has made significant contributions to software engineering, data mining, and process automation, and her research holds promise for transforming how businesses implement and optimize complex workflows in real time.

Publication Top Notes

• Towards a New Adaptation Engine for Self-Adaptation of BPMN Processes Instances (2019) 🛠️📊
• Towards an Approach for the Evaluation of the Quality of Business Process Models (2018) 📈
• A Survey of Self-Adaptive Business Processes (2018) 🔍🔄
• Self-Adaptive Business Processes: A Hybrid Approach for the Resolution of Adaptation Needs (2022) 🔄⚙️
• A Hybrid Approach Based on Reuse Techniques for Autonomic Adaptation of Business Processes (2020) 🔄♻️
• A Context-Based Approach for Real-Time Adaptation Need Detection (2023) ⏱️💡
• Real-Time Context Monitoring and Analysis for Detecting Process Adaptation Needs (2024) 📡📊
• Real-Time Context Monitoring and Analysis for Detecting Process Adaptation Needs (2023) 🌍🔍
• A New Adaptation Engine for Self-Adaptation of BPMN Processes Instances (2023) ⚙️🧠

Conclusion

Dr. Jamila Oukharijane is an outstanding candidate for the Best Researcher Award, with a strong track record in cutting-edge research on self-adaptive business processes and autonomic computing. Her academic achievements, research contributions, and teaching experience demonstrate both intellectual rigor and a commitment to advancing knowledge in her field. Her work not only addresses current challenges in business process management but also provides innovative solutions with significant implications for the industry. While there are areas for growth, particularly in expanding her research impact through journal publications and industry collaboration, Dr. Oukharijane has already made significant strides in her field. With continued growth in these areas, she is well-positioned to make even greater contributions to the academic and professional community. Overall, Dr. Oukharijane’s combination of research excellence, teaching experience, and global recognition makes her a deserving nominee for this prestigious award.