Business Process Modeling and Analysis
Why Model Business Processes
Business Process Modeling is the foundation for a wide range of business performance improvement initiatives. Beginning with the need to simply define and document how things work today, to identifying new opportunities and operations challenges, to the development and implementation of software systems, process modeling should be one of the first activities an organization should focus on.
What is a Business Process Model?
A complete business process model can include a wide range of documents. A basic model can be something as simple as a procedurally-focused, step-by-step diagram of a discrete process. Depending on the intended use of the models documents, a single diagram alone would suffice. In other situations, the complete document set could include artifacts like:
• Procedurally-focused, low-level process task/activity diagram
• Process Narrative
• Logical Data Model listing all data objects and their respective data elements
• Process Glossary
• Business Rules Matrix
• Process Performer Roles and Responsibilities Matrix
• Organizational Process Classification Framework
• Software Use Case Diagrams
• Data Flow Diagrams
• Business System Requirements List
• Functional Software Requirements List
• Technical Software Requirements List
Applications of Business Process Modeling
• Process Improvement Discovery
• Process Improvement Projects
• The Foundation/Source Reference for Software Requirements Discovery
• ERP/CRM Systems Implementation Readiness
• Due Diligence/Analysis for Mergers and Acquisitions
• The Basis for Standard Operating Procedures, Policy Statements, Job Aids
• The Basis and Support for Employee Job Training, Customer Training
• The Basis and Support for Customer Training
• The Foundation of the Organizational Knowledge Base
• Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance
• Opportunity/Problem Analysis
• Change Management
• Balanced Scorecard Implementation
• ISO 9000, ISO 20000 Preparation
• Proof of Concept
Our Approach and Standards
Anyone can draw a diagram. That’s the problem. Without a structured, disciplined, focused, and measurable set of standards, the quality, utility, usefulness and effectiveness of the modeling effort and resulting deliverables will suffer. The purpose of standardization is to control quality, consistency, thoroughness, completeness, precision, and accuracy. Whether modeling is done by a sole practitioner or by a team of business analysts, the prudent, responsible, and intelligent thing to do is to implement and manage a structured approach that uses proven, industry standard best practices, frameworks, and techniques. In addition to diagramming and documentation standards, an organization also needs a structured elicitation technique that ensures all the right questions are asked the right way, every single time.
At Process1st Consulting, we approach every modeling initiative using a proven set of standards, techniques, and tools that include the following:
• A Structured, Syntax-specific Questioning/Elicitation Dialog
• The Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN)
• The Unified Modeling Language (UML)
• Data Flow Diagrams (DFD)
• XML
• The Process Classification Framework
• Lean Six Sigma
Tools:
- Sparx Enterprise Architect
- OmniGraffle
- Microsoft Visio
- Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint
- Adobe Acrobat Professional
- Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, Illustrator, and InDesign
- Apple Final Cut Express and iDVD, Soundtrack, Quicktime
- Sony Screenblast Movie Studio
- Audacity
- MindJet Mind Manager
- Rapidweaver