Business AnalysisLecture 5:Business Process

Modelling

What is a business process? What are the rules for a business

process? Visually represent a BP by

drawing a Cross-functional Flowchart (swimming lanes) model of the process

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Business Process Modelling

Background

A set of steps a business performs to create value for clients

Consists of 3 components inputs, activities and outputs

What is a business process?

What is a good process model?

Business Processes

Modeling Business Processes

Use the following symbols when drawing business process components in a Cross-functional Flowchart of a business process.

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Business Process Modelling

Let’s review a simple process

Activities: A process or sub-process that forms a logical, part of the business process being described by the flowchart. (Use the Process or Sub-process block on flowchart)

Inputs: only database records and documents are seen as inputs. (Use the Document or Data block on flowchart)

Outputs: only database records and documents are seen as outputs. (Use the Document or Data block on flowchart)

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What are the components?

External Data, or External Materials used (sometimes called material stores): Data or Material from an external system – not the database/system responsible for data storage/delivery in the business process being described by the flowchart. Use the

Database / External Data block on flowchart) Swimming lanes: a column of the flowchart dedicated

to an actor / user / system in the business process. Decision: a part of the business process where one of

the actors / users / system must decide on one of many process flows that will determine the rest of the process flow. (Use the decision block on flowchart)

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More BP components

Always first write out the Input Output Model (IO Model) of the process

Example customer order on line

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Before you draw the BP flowchart…

Search for item on line…

System generates search results

Select and view item

Place item in basket

Customer checks out

Checkout

Checkout

Choice

Activity Input Output Responsible

1) Customer searches for item     Customer

2) System generates search results

Item records  Search results

System

3) Customer selects and views item

Item record   Customer

4) Customer places item in basket

Item record Transaction item record

Customer

5) Customer checks out     Customer

5.1) Confirms details Customer record   Customer

5.2) Confirms transaction items

Transaction item records

  Customer

5.3) Confirms payment details

  Proforma Invoice

Customer

6) CHOICE/DECISION – accept transaction?

Invoice   Customer

7) IF YES: Accept Invoice Order / Receipt Document

Customer

8) IF NO: Reject Invoice Invoice   Customer

9) Process Order Order record   Customer

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Example of IO Model

A swimming lane for each actor involved in the BP – usually three: Customer Administrator / Business actor System

Sometimes only two actors Example: Customer buys item online Actors: Customer and System

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Drawing the BP flowchart