Purpose
Process Modelling is a standardized graphical model used to show how work is carried out and is a foundation for process analysis.
Business Analysis Body of Knowledge® (BABOK®)
Process modelling is an activity of representing the processes of an enterprise, so that the current process may be analyzed, improved, and automated. It is mostly performed by the business analysts, who provide expertise in the modelling discipline, and by the subject matter experts, who have specialized knowledge about the processes being modeled. The objective of using process modelling is to increase the process speed, increase the quality, reduce the cycle time, and reduce the cost. The change management is used in process modelling technique to apply any of the improved business processes into practice. The process modelling technique became the base for new methodologies for those that supported data collection, data flow analysis, process flow diagrams, and reporting facilities. Process modelling mostly deals with low-level mapping with the main purpose of improving the process.
Process model describes the sequential flow of work or the activities. It is constructed on multiple levels each of which can be aligned to different stakeholders point of view. These levels exists to progressively decompose a complex process into component processes, with each level increasing the detail and the information required. At low level,the process modelling can identify the activities and all the possible outcomes. At high level, the model provides a general understanding of the process and its relationship to other processes. Process modelling can be used to,
- describe the context of the solution
- describe what actually happens during the process
- provide an understandable description of sequence of activities to the external observer
- provide a basis for process analysis
The business analysts use the process modelling technique to define the current and the potential future state of the process. The current state provide the understanding and agreement of the process and the future state provides the alignment with what is desired to happen in the future.
Some of the articles related to Process modelling techniques are as follows,
- Business Process Modelling - https://www.heflo.com/blog/process-modeling/business-process-modeling-tutorial/
- Process Modelling Technique - https://creately.com/blog/diagrams/business-process-modeling-techniques/
- Process Modelling and Mapping - https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.bfma.org/resource/resmgr/articles/08_64.pdf
- Strategies in Process Modelling - https://nptel.ac.in/content/syllabus_pdf/103107096.pdf
- Uses of Process Modelling Technique - https://www.modernanalyst.com/Resources/Articles/tabid/115/ID/864/Why-How-Business-Process-Modelling.aspx
- The Business Process Model - https://sparxsystems.com/downloads/whitepapers/The_Business_Process_Model.pdf
- Guide to Process Modelling - https://intranet.ecu.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/777768/EPC-Process-Modelling-Guideline.PDF
- Purpose of Business Process Modelling - https://www.researchgate.net/publication/225224720_Business_Process_Modelling_and_Purpose_Analysis_for_Requirements_Analysis_of_Information_Systems
- Management of Process Modelling - https://www.omg.org/bpmn/Documents/6AD5D16960.BPMN_and_BPM.pdf
Process modelling provides a valuable visual image of the processes and use these images to improve the efficiency and eliminate the process which is not used. The process modelling templates are created to describe some aspects of the process, process flow, and the process solution. The elements of process modelling technique includes,
- Activity - It is an individual step or a piece of work that forms a part of the business process. It may be single task or may be further decomposed in to sub-process.
- Event - It is an occurrence which initiates, interrupts, and terminates an activity or a task within the process.
- Directional Flow - A path that indicates the logical sequence of the work flow. In general, diagrams are drawn to show the passage of time in a consistent fashion.
- Decision Point - A point in the process where the flow of work splits into two or more flows, which may be mutually exclusive alternatives or parallels.
- Link - A connection to other process maps
- Role - A type of person or group involved in the process.
Flowchart
Flowchart are commonly used with the non-technical audiences and are good for gaining the information of what the process is and the context of the solution. A flowchart is a simple one, displaying the flow of sequence of activities involved.
Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN)
It provides an industry standard language for modelling business process in a form that is accessible by both business users and technical developers. It is designed to cover many type of modelling including both the internal process and the collaborative process. It can be the input to the process automation technologies.
Some of the books for Process modelling techniques are,
- Process Modelling: Design and Control | B. Wayne Bequette | https://www.amazon.com/Process-Control-Modeling-Design/dp/0133936608/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=process+modeling+books&qid=1592477191&sr=8-3
- Business Process Modelling | Manuel Laguna | https://www.amazon.com/Business-Process-Modeling-Simulation-Design-ebook/dp/B00CLZT8RI/ref=sr_1_9?dchild=1&keywords=process+modeling+books&qid=1592477342&sr=8-9
- Introduction to the Standard Business Process Modelling | Thomas Allweyer | https://www.amazon.com/Bpmn-2-0-Thomas-Allweyer/dp/383709331X/ref=sr_1_27?dchild=1&keywords=process+modeling+books&qid=1592477342&sr=8-27
- Process Modelling : A Business Guide to Process Development | Ahmed Fawzy | https://www.amazon.com/Business-Analysis-Process-Modeling-Improvement/dp/1949814009/ref=sr_1_41?dchild=1&keywords=process+modeling+books&qid=1592477515&sr=8-41
