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A Pragmatic Guide to Business Process Modelling

A Pragmatic Guide to Business Process Modelling

Jon Holt

(2009)

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Book Details

Abstract

This expanded second edition shows how effective and accurate modelling can deliver a more complete understanding of a business. By applying the visual modelling techniques described here, it is possible to map an entire business, using the Unified Modelling Language (UML). Jon Holt covers all aspects of the BPM process, including analysis, specification, measurement and documentation. New chapters deal with the presentation of process information, enterprise architecture and business tools.
Revised and expanded with 5 new chapters, the second edition of 'A Pragmatic Guide to Business Process Modelling' shows how effective and accurate modelling can deliver a more complete understanding of a business and its future requirements. Most organisations traditionally rely upon over-simplified activity diagrams that only map input and output, but by applying the visual modelling techniques described here, it is possible to measure and map an entire business, using the Unified Modelling Language (UML). Jon Holt covers all aspects of the BPM process, including analysis, specification, mapping, measurement and documentation. New chapters deal with the presentation of process information, enterprise architecture, business tools and a teaching guide.
Jon Holt is an award-winning author and public speaker, specialising in all aspects of systems, process and competency modelling. Jon's other work interests include Enterprise Architecture, standards and education, and he has previously held a variety of positions at universities in the UK and USA. Jon is a Fellow of the IET and BCS.
Jon Holt's clear and engaging style makes a potentially difficult subject highly accessible and the reader's progress is helped along by the mixture of good examples, humour and flair for explanation that we have come to expect from this author.
Paul McNeillis
Jon Holt's clear and engaging style makes a potentially difficult subject highly accessible.
Paul McNeillis

Table of Contents

Section Title Page Action Price
Cover Cover
Copyright iv
A Pragmatic Guide to Business Process Modelling i
The British Computer Society ii
A Pragmatic Guide to Business Process Modelling iii
Contents vii
List of figures and tables xi
Author xvii
Foreword xix
Acknowledgements xxi
Abbreviations xxiii
Glossary xxv
Useful Websites xxix
Preface xxxi
1 Introduction 1
The Magic of Processes 1
Background 3
Some Basic Definitions 4
Risk 5
The Process 8
Conclusions 15
2 The UML Diagrams 16
Introduction 16
Modelling 16
The UML 18
The Class Diagram 19
The Activity Diagram 30
The Sequence Diagram 33
The Use Case Diagram 35
Consistency between the Diagrams 41
Conclusions 41
3 Requirements for Process Modelling 42
Introduction 42
Specific Process Modelling Requirements 42
Meeting the Requirements Through Modelling 45
Tailoring Processes 47
The Process Meta-Model 50
Conclusions 52
4 The Process Meta-Model Expanded 53
Introduction 53
Process Concept View 53
Process Realization View 57
The Seven Views of the Meta-Model 59
Consistency between Views 77
Using the Meta-Model 79
Extending the Process Meta-Model 86
Conclusions 90
5 Process Mapping and Metrics 91
Introduction 91
A Process for Process Mapping 93
Process Mapping Metrics 100
Application of Metrics 104
Interpreting the Results 113
Conclusions 114
6 Case Study 115
Introduction 115
Background 115
The Approach 117
Interpreting the Process Model 118
The Case Study Process Model 119
Process Mapping 143
Conclusions 146
Exercises 146
7 The Bigger Picture - Enterprise Architecture 148
Introduction 148
Enterprise Architecture 149
Enterprise Architecture Structure 150
Requirements for Enterprise Architecture 151
Existing Sources 153
Modelling an Enterprise Architecture 154
Conclusions 159
8 Presentation 160
Introduction 160
Presentation Issues 160
Example Mappings to Different Notations 161
Conclusions 172
9 Teaching Guide 173
Introduction 173
Professional Training 175
Teaching as Part of an Undergraduate or Postgraduate Course 176
Conclusions 183
10 Tools and Automation 184
Introduction 184
General Capabilities of a Tool 184
Specific Capabilities of a Tool 185
Business Considerations 188
Automation Tools 189
Conclusions 190
11 Answers to Exercises 191
Appendix A - Summary of the Process Modelling Meta-model 201
Appendix B - Summary of UML Notation 203
References 205
Further Reading 207
Index 209
Back Cover 216