Significance of Business Process Modelling in Modern Day Context - Essay Example

Table of Contents Introduction 2 Understanding Different Approaches to Business Process Modelling 3 Determining Association between IT Professionals and End Users in Business Process Design 5 How BPM Can Assist Particular Businesses in Modern Day Context 6 Future Directions for BPM 17 Conclusion 18 References 19 Introduction Business analyses and designs are performed by the system forecasters whose main responsibility is to comprehend the factors that humans require in order to perform various pertinent aspects such as data inputs or data flow methodologically, process or alter data, store data and output information in relation to particular business. In addition to it, business analysis as well as design can be used for the purpose of evaluating, designing and thus executing enhancements in the endorsement of the users (Downs and Lunn 2012). Business analysis as well as design can as well be utilised for the proper functioning of the businesses that can be attained by means of the utilisation of the computerised information systems. The chief goal of the business analysis as well as design is to identify what is wrong with the way in which the businesses’ function in the present times and attempts at recognising what needs to be altered in order to make life smoother for the end users of the products. The business analysts need to be preoccupied with the comprehension of how the business processes along with the information as well as technology communicates in order to authorise an organisation to fulfil its mission (Pearson Education 2012). It is worth mentioning that a business process is a collection of rationally related business activities that integrate in order to deliver something of value such as products, services, goods and information to the customer (Tibco 2012). It can be viewed individually as discrete steps in a business cycle or jointly as the collection of activities that assist in the creation of the value chain of an organisation and thus relate that value chain with the needs of the customers (Pearson Education 2012). Business process modelling’s chief objective is to enhance the performance of the business by optimising the effectiveness of connecting activities in the provision of the products or services. The technique is generally related to mapping and workflow in order to permit understanding, analysis as well as positive change (Sparx Systems 2004). The chief aim of the essay is to comprehend the significance and the benefits of business process modelling in modern day context. It will begin with the discussion of the meaning of the business process modelling with certain examples. The essay will further attempt at discussing regarding the uses of business process modelling and the reasons behind the organisations implementing it as well as the benefits they derive out of the implementation of this process. The essay will also endeavour at comprehending the various approaches to business process modelling. Understanding Different Approaches to Business Process Modelling Business process reengineering can be considered as one of the most famous terms since the 1990s. Most of the companies as well as the organisations demonstrate their successful experiences by the implementation of the revolutionary approaches with the objective to attain drastic changes in their business processes. Remarkably, business process modelling is significant within the business process reengineering lifecycle. It has been found that business process modelling within business process reengineering tends to play two crucial functions. The first function is related to capturing the existing business processes by methodologically presenting their activities as well as related elements. The other role is related to the demonstration of new processes for the purpose of assessing their performance. Along with these two roles, it can be noted that business process modelling can comprise the capability to analyse so that it can assist in process evaluation as well as alternative selection (Mendling and Strembeck 2008). As mentioned by Kueng and Kawalek (1996), there are four main approaches to business process modelling such as activity-oriented approaches, object-oriented approaches, and role-oriented approaches as well as speech-act oriented approaches. Activity-oriented approaches define a particular business process as a detailed ordering of the various tasks. They tend to offer valuable support in refining process models. However, it can be mentioned that this approach often fails to demonstrate the complexities of work and hence is incapable of executing new business processes. Object-oriented approaches are generally linked with the object orientation. The various object orientations are encapsulation, specialisation as well as inheritance. The ideologies of the object orientation are generally related to business process modelling. However, it is often viewed that the process owners as well as the team members identify their work by tasks or activities instead of objects. Role-oriented approaches tend to recommend that it is significant to involve a role in any set of tasks and for undertaking any sort of responsibilities. It further states that a collection of the prehistoric tasks can be allocated to a specific role that is actor or agent. However, it is often found that they are not adequate for expressing a complicated sequencing logic. The fourth approach of business process modelling is the speech act-oriented approach that is grounded upon speech act theory under the action perspectives. It tends to conceive the communication process as consisting of four stepped loop such as proposal, agreement, performance as well as satisfaction. Even though the various business cases that take place in every day context can be viewed as the communication between the customers as well as the performers, it has been observed that this modelling approach fails to offer much assistance in evaluating the prevailing processes or in generating new processes. Hence, by making comparison among the four different business processes modelling approaches, it can be stated that there are requirements to enhance the business process modelling approaches. It is vital to make attempts in order to create numerous emphases so that a more viable approach to capture the existing processes can be developed (Lin, Yang, and Pai 2002). Determining Association between IT Professionals and End Users in Business Process Design Since the initial days of computing, it has been noted that the IT professionals have been striving with their end users to a degree that end users became cynic regarding the quality of services as well as endorsements that the IT professionals can offer to them. In this context, it can be stated that the association between IT professionals as well as the end users in most of the cases were noted to be quite poor, which tends to have an unfavourable influence upon the attempts to make use of the business process modelling to the benefits of organisation as well as communities as a whole (Leonard 2002). A business process professional or the IT professionals in the context of business process modelling can be identified as the person whose main task is to make use of the business process management technologies as well as methods for the purpose of attaining continuous enhancement, optimisation as well as alteration of the business process of the organisation in order to satisfy the end users (Warthy 2000). It can be mentioned that the IT professionals are supposed to design business process modelling in a way so that the end users can avail the facility of better quality of information. IT professionals are generally responsible for generating and hence administering business process flows, business requirements as well as business rules (Ould 1995). How BPM Can Assist Particular Businesses in Modern Day Context There are many reasons for the implementation of the business process modelling. It permits timely response to the altering business environment (Wastell, White, and Kawalek 1994). It further examines the business processes as performance indicators that can be most effectively used by the business houses for evaluating their performance on a regular basis. Business process modelling is found to connect the operational processes with the corporate strategies (United Nations University 2012). The greater dependence of the organisations upon the information systems linked to open data networks has created information security as one of the success factors for the present day organisations. Risk analysis seems to be one of the main methods for the initiation of security in information systems. However, it can be evaluated that risk analysis is generally dependent upon a simple model related to information system that consists of the assets mainly data such as hardware and software and these assets are susceptible to numerous threats. Hence, risk analysis cannot offer for the comprehension of the organisational environment where the information system operates. Thus, it can be proposed that all-inclusive methodology for information systems security analysis and design needs to integrate risk analysis as well as organisational analysis depending upon business process modelling (Kokolakis, Demopoulos, and Kiountouzis 2000). It has been found that one of the main objectives for creating the business process models is to endorse the interaction between the stakeholders during the process of software creation. In order to attain these objectives, it is vital for the model to be easy to comprehend and thus easy to administer (Gruhn and Laue 2012). One of the most significant concepts related to the business process management is visualisation of the prevailing or future organisational functions by utilising the business process models. Business process modelling can be identified as an approach through which the activities, events, flow controls along with the stakeholders and their association are evaluated. It can be acknowledged as a significant tool that can be utilised for the purpose of documenting the business operations, and assisting in the interaction taking place between the stakeholders. In addition to these, process models permit process alteration decisions to address the cost, efficiency issues as well as compliance. Since numerous decades, business process modelling has been considered as one of the most significant practices, which tends to add value to the organisation. However, it can be mentioned that there is a requirement of significant investments. For instance, in the forms of training, tools as well as modelling itself. Furthermore, employees are also considered as a considerable factor for the success of process modelling initiative. It needs to be remembered that if the employees are found to be mishandling process modelling then in such cases, the organisation is most likely to miss out the opportunity to avail the advantages of business process modelling. Suncorp, which is considered to be one of the Australia’s top 25 listed corporations, tends to offer various insurance as well as banking products to the clients via extensive branch as well as agency network (Alzubidi, Recker and Berhard 2011). During its business operations, it has been successful at investing time as well as money so that it can generate and administer business models (Asia Insurance Review 2012). Business process modelling (BPM) is mainly concerned with endorsement of the business processes. It generally comprises design, endorsement, monitor and evaluation of the business processes. Business process modelling permits quick reaction to process alterations as per the needs of the changing business environment. It is generally restrained to operational methods because of the fact that the strategic levels processes are quite difficult to describe (Wohed et.al. 2006). Since the precedent few decades, it has been noted that most of the companies have begun to optimise their business processes so that they can meet the goals of the organisation. In order to attain these goals, there are numerous approaches to business process modelling that have been created. There are certain issues related with the present business process modelling languages. The first issue is related to the fact that the definition of the dependency taking place between the business processes along with their supporting software systems is not adequately endorsed. The other problem is related to the variability of similar however well-differentiated software product. In the present times, the variability modelling is restricted to the structural definition related to comparable software products (Giaglis 2001). The other problem is related to the fact that the present day Business Process Modelling Languages (BPMLs) fail to offer the modelling of process goals along with their measures. It is significant to resolve all these issues with the help of the well-defined business process modelling methods (Korherr 2008). A process is considered as a collection of tasks that is created in order to generate a particular outcome. In other words, a business process can be identified as a sort of process that is created for the purpose of attaining specific business objectives. It is worthy of stating the fact that the business processes comprise numerous components (Yong-hua, Yu-liu and Tian-qi 2001). It consists of the data that is required for attaining the desired business goals. It also comprises the individual work tasks that tend to direct, reconsider or act upon the data is certain ways. Business process modelling also tends to comprise the individuals as well as the groups performing numerous activities. It can be stated that the processes can be either manual or might be automated as well. They might be fully documented or simply reside in the minds of either one or more people. They might be simple or might be complex as well (Barn 2007). One of the instances of the business process modelling can be the activities that are implicated in dispensation of the customer order by using an internet-based mail order company. The other example of business process model diagram is dependent upon an online order-through-to-delivery process. The flowchart that has been presented below makes it simple to view the procedure along with the main components within it (Business Balls 2009). Source: (Business Balls 2009) The organisations can be identified as collection of business processes that can be evaluated as well as enhanced by means of business process modelling. Successful business process modelling tends to depend upon adequate view of the characteristics of the business processes, however it has been recognized that there are differences in opinions regarding the characteristics of these processes (Melao and Pidd 2001). There is not any apparent as well as established definition related to the business process made available in the literature. For instance, Hammer and Champy (1993) stated business process as a collection of activities that considered together generates an outcome of great value to the customer. On the other hand, Davenport and Short (1990) identified the business process as a collection of plausibly related tasks that are performed in order to attain a business outcome. Davenport (1993) on the other hand defined a process as sequencing of the work related tasks across, with a proper beginning or an end as well as evidently known inputs or outputs. Furthermore, Earl (1994) defined a process as an imaginative or horizontal form which tends to summarize the interdependence of tasks, people, roles, departments and functions that are needed in order to offer a customer with the product or service. Owing to the rise in the number of organisations getting involved in the business process re-engineering activities, there are innumerable approaches, methodologies as well as techniques to endorse the business process modelling efforts. It has been noted that Kettinger and et. al. (1997) conducted a survey related to the prevailing methodologies and techniques for business process alterations and hence created a framework in order to assist referencing of tools as well as methods that assist in re-engineering strategy, technology and management dimensions of business processes. Simulation is categorised as one of the modelling methods that can be effectively utilised for the purpose of attaining the business objectives. However, it can be mentioned that there is a requirement for greater comprehensible multimedia method capture along with simulation software packages that tend to permit easy visualisation of business processes and permits team members to participate in the modelling attempts. There are innumerable software applications being released in the software market for the process of business process modelling. According to Gladwin and Tumay (1994), most of the applications are found to be demonstrating business processes by means of graphical symbol where the individual tasks within a particular process are demonstrated as a series of rectangles and arrows. A few of these tools offer certain fundamental calculations of process time. As observed by Harrison and Pratt (1993), there are a few more complicated techniques that permit certain characteristics to be assigned to tasks and thus enable process analysis. However, most of these tools are not capable of modelling the vibrant business processes and hence assess the impacts of stochastic events and the random attitude of the resources (Robinson 1994). Gladwin and Tumay (1994) investigated the fact that more than 80% of the business process reengineering projects made use of the inert flowcharting tools for business process modelling. ‘Static modelling tools’ generate models that are generally deterministic and do not permit assessment of the substitute re-designed processes. Indulska and et. al. (2009) conducted a Delphi study taking into consideration the academics, practitioners as well as vendors and hence permitted them to rank the advantages offered by business process modelling. It was found that while the groups altered in their comprehension of the process modelling advantages, there is also a certain degree of agreement among the groups. Kesari and et. al. (2003) argued the fact that escalated process understanding as well as process improvements are considered to be one of the crucial benefits related to process modelling. However, this has been argued by the research conducted by Indulska and et. al. (2009). However, it can be evidently stated that both the studies have agreed to the fact that process modelling assists process communication in the organisation. Contextually, Kesari and et. al. (2003) observed a major advantage from envisaging business processes via modelling, for instance to identify the influence of a given process on the other processes (Alzubidi, Recker and Berhard 2011). In light of the escalating economic pressures upon the organisations, one of the most adequate responses to such pressures can be considered as process-centred design of the organisations as well as information system. Business process modelling that is considered as a method in order to identify the way in which the organisations perform the current as well as potential business methods can be considered as the basic requirement for the organisations that aim at involving in the business process enhancement initiatives (Bandara and Roseman 2005). The activities, events and control flow logic comprising of the business process is explained in a graphical form with the assistance of the business process modelling. It further comprises the goals, risks as well as performance metrics. It can be mentioned that the various factors such as globalisation along with economic disturbances as well as regulatory body that necessitate for process compliance leads to the escalating interests in business process modelling. The escalating interest is generally evident by rise in the enquiries as well as requests for activities such as process modelling executive training in the market of Australia (Eikebrokk et. al. 2011). In case business process modelling is to be implemented in a large company on a wide scale then there would be requirement of great efforts in relation to investments in context of tools, methodologies, training as well as the actual conduct of the process modelling. There are innumerable studies that illustrate the fact that the individuals such as the business analysts or the managers confront problems in attaining the assistance from the top level management for process modelling initiatives in the organisation. The individuals fail to communicate and thus quantify the advantages that can be easily gained from the implementation of the business process modelling activities. Presenting the advantages offered by business process modelling is often viewed as a greater challenge by the business process modelling professionals however there are quite a few studies based upon this fact (Recker 2010). Business process modelling in itself does not possess any important strategic advantages outside of enhancing the capability to support business processes with the strategic objectives as well as other perspectives. Furthermore, endorsement for process enhancements can be identified as one of the core advantages of business process modelling initiatives, followed by enhanced and constant comprehension of the organisational processes. It has been recognised that one of the main advantages that the companies receive in implementing business process modelling has been enhanced communication that might take place between the process stakeholders as well as numerous departments. Captivatingly, the other benefit of business process modelling is the model-driven process execution (Indulska et. al. 2009). Future Directions for BPM There are numerous challenges that ‘business process modelling’ is likely to confront in the near future. The critical areas of concern is related to standardisation of modelling approaches, recognition of value proposition of business process modelling along with model-driven process implementation. The companies are also most likely to face challenges related to the administration of the process models such as version, variant or release management. It can be mentioned that such dimensions are likely to prevail as business process modelling roadblocks in the near future (Ould 1995). Conclusion In the present day scenario, business process modelling is becoming increasingly famous. It has been concluded by the experts in the field of information technology as well as Business Engineering that successful systems begin with the comprehension of the business processes of an organisation. There are many reasons behind the use of business process modelling. It has been noted that it permits timely response to the altering business environment. It assists the business houses in evaluating their performance. Furthermore, one of the chief objectives of business process model is to permit for the interaction among the stakeholders while creating the software. There are numerous approaches for business process modelling such as activity-oriented approaches, object-oriented approaches, role-oriented approaches as well as speech-act oriented approaches that tend to produce different kinds of representations. Hence, there is a need to bring certain improvements in the various approaches of business process modelling so that it can be applicable in the business adequately. 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Paper #1 – Enterprise Engineering. Yong-hua, Zhou, Chen Yu-liu and Zhao Tian-qi. 2001. “Business Process Modelling”. Computer Integrated Manufacturing Systems. 8(1): 17-21. Read More