Sandro Franzoi 

Date/Time: 26.11.2025, 12:00 

Location: D2.2.094 

Title

Different Metrics, Different Stories: How Computational Representations of Process Complexity Shape Sensemaking and Theorizing

Abstract 

Computationally-intensive approaches offer powerful tools for observing and theorizing organizational phenomena. Yet, when we speak about the same underlying concepts, how they are measured and visualized can shape the insights we derive. Using process complexity as an illustrative case, we show that different metrics produce different patterns and correlations, leading to contrasting interpretations of the same process dynamics and drift. These differences are not merely technical; they influence the narratives and theoretical inferences researchers construct. This work highlights a critical insight for computationally-intensive theory construction: the choices of metrics and visualizations are themselves lenses that frame sensemaking. By revealing how the same concept can yield multiple, sometimes conflicting outcomes depending on computational representation, the study emphasizes the need for reflexivity and rigor in how we model, visualize, and theorize organizational phenomena. 

Bio 

Sandro Franzoi is a research assistant at the Chair of Information Systems and Business Process Management at the University of Münster. His research explores process complexity and the associated dynamics of business processes and organizational routines by leveraging computational methods such as process mining. In particular, he studies how large amounts of digital trace data and the associated behavioral visibility can be leveraged to better understand organizations and their business processes.