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Process Modeling
Process Modeling is a business activity that often involves second and third tier staff1 within the organization, as well as business analysts. Often a team activity, the ajor challenge in process modeling is the extraction of information from within the organization that accurately reflects “how we do work” or “how we will do this work.” Process modeling is typically the leading activity when implementing a Business Process Management system.
(TIBCO iProcess Modeler Modeling Environment)
With TIBCO, process modeling is performed within iProcess Modeler, a robust and intuitive graphical modeling application geared for the business task of developing the basic structure (steps and flow) of business processes in the organization. The iProcess Modeler requires little technical knowledge or ability other than general familiarity using software. This is the appropriate design for this activity as the real challenge at the modeling stage is the accurate identification and definition of high level structure for the organization’s business processes by the people responsible for model definition.
iProcess Modeler is also where external integration points are identified, business rules are assigned to the process model and routing controls are applied. Though iProcess Modeler does support limited business rules capability within the Modeler itself, substantial benefits derive from implementing business rules in the TIBCO iProcess Decisions™ business rules application.
Integration options include a new, powerful feature – the ability to browse, select and connect to services (including Web services) at a step level within iProcess Modeler – in real time. This is the critical bridge between BPM and SOA as well as between business users and technology users. Though it may seem simple to state, this single feature addresses the majority of issues regarding unified use of BPM and SOA. There is also a simple, graphical mapping utility (this mapping utility is used throughout TIBCO’s products where common data mapping is required, a fact that simplifies usage and maintenance) available should there be a need to map data points that use different terminology or formatting.
The people involved in process modeling will vary by organization from senior executives to business analysts and other professional positions. The important point is to realize that this role is typically either conducted or directed by a business person in a broad organizational role.
Gives business users the ability to easily define the flow of complex processes involving applications and people.
- Process models can be tested to simulate the likely efficiency and outcomes of processes.
- Supports complexities of managing multiple, active versions of the same process.
- Process maps are fully executable processes, so modifying and deploying a change to a process is one fast, easy step.
The TIBCO iProcess Modeler has one primary objective and that is to make the analysis and documentation of business processes as simple and intuitive as possible. It is aimed at a non-technical audience and gives you a visual representation of your business process that is easy to follow and that can be enhanced or amended at any time. The TIBCO iProcess Modeler builds on the familiar flowchart metaphor to show in an unambiguous manner, the flow of work for a particular business process. The rules that you define graphically are stored by the Staffware node and can then be deployed across a wide ranging hardware architecture.
The TIBCO iProcess Modeler is automatically started by the TIBCO iProcess Client when you want to create or edit procedures. From the TIBCO iProcess Modeler you can access the Step Definer, which enables you to design the forms for each step in your procedure. The forms are the part of the step seen by the person who receives the work item in their queue. The forms contain text and fields into which users can enter information for a particular case, or instance, of a procedure. Fields can also display information already provided or can hold information calculated by the procedure.
TIBCO® iProcess Modeler
Integration Techniques
Staffware can be implemented as a standalone system or it can form a component of an integrated business process solution.
Staffware is an open product that can be used to integrate many systems. In most enterprises, there is always some form of integration required with third-party products such as:
- databases and data warehouses
- document management
- electronic mail
- eCommerce applications
- image processing.
Related Topics
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