Business Analysis Lecture 5 Business Process Modelling Business

Business Analysis Lecture 5: Business Process Modelling

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 Business Analysis 2

Background

What is a business process? A set of steps a business performs to create value for clients Consists of 3 components inputs, activities and outputs

What is a good process model?

Business Processes

Modeling Business Processes

Business Process Modelling Use the following symbols when drawing business process components in a Cross-functional Flowchart of a business process. Business Analysis 11

Let’s review a simple process

What are the components? 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) Business Analysis 15

More BP 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) Business Analysis 16

Before you draw the BP flowchart… Always first write out the Input Output Model (IO Model) of the process Example customer order on line Business Analysis 17

Search for item on line…

System generates search results

Select and view item

Place item in basket

Customer checks out

Checkout

Checkout

Choice

Example of IO Model Activity 1) Customer searches for item 2) System generates search results Input Item records Output Search results Responsible Customer 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 5. 1) Confirms details Customer record 5. 2) Confirms transaction items Transaction item records 5. 3) Confirms payment details 6) CHOICE/DECISION – accept transaction? 7) IF YES: Accept Invoice Proforma Invoice 8) IF NO: Reject Invoice Business Analysis 9) Process Order Invoice 26 Order record Order / Receipt Document Customer Customer

Drawing the BP flowchart 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 Business Analysis 27