Engineer Business Processes

   
Engineer Business Processes  
   
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A business process is a set of activities performed by an organization to accomplish a mission. Engineered business processes organize the minimum number of activities required to execute and support the process in the most cost-effective and efficient manner. They may not require automation but are often enabled by it.
     
Business process engineering
  forces a logical evaluation of business processes
  optimizes resource utilization
  reduces operational costs
  helps end-users recognize the potential of evolving technology
  separates business and technology decisions
  improves the flow of knowledge across functional boundaries
  creates process documentation as a natural by-product
 
         
 
 

When should you engineer business processes?

   
Business process engineering is an ongoing process. Any time the performance of a business unit is unsatisfactory, the cause has to be identified and adjustments made.  
 
 

Who should engineer business processes?

   
Business experts have to be the primary decision makers to engineer effective business processes. Technology can be used to support the process once it is working well, but good technology will not make a bad process better.  
       
 
 

Foundation Training for Business Systems Analysts

   VIL612 : How to Analyze and Improve Business Processes
 

Overview Presentations for Management

 
 

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Our e-Coaching offer is a cost-effective alternative for small groups to learn these and other business systems analysis techniques at their own workplace or for follow-up after a training seminar

Requirements Solutions Group offers training as well as web-based and on-site consulting services to support a wide range of activities within the system development life cycle all targeted exclusively to the Business Analyst, Requirements Engineer and the Subject Matter Expert.

You can also visit our bookstore for the newest publications in the business systems analysis field.

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Workflow Diagrams

A workflow diagram is a tool for documenting how information or material flows from one business activity to another. By illustrating how the individual activities within a business process interact, a workflow diagram lets you design the entire process with confidence.
 

Symbols on a Workflow Diagram:

You only need four symbols on a workflow diagram:

Function indicates action
(activity, process)

Flow shows movement
(information, material, control)

Data store represents knowledge
(repository of information or material)

External entity implies scope
(interaction between your process and the outside world)

 

Decision Tables

Decision tables show the results of sets of conditions. Consider the following statements:  

Interview Notes

If A and C are true, do X; but if C is false, do Y. If A is false, check B. If B is true, do Z; otherwise, don't do anything. Sometimes A, B and C are all true and we do X, Y and Z; and if A, B and C are all false, call repair. Also, if C and B are true at the same time, then we always do X and Z.

 

 

The Same Information in a Decision Table

Conditions Rules
IF A T T T T F F F F
IF B T T F F T T F F
IF C T F T F T F T F
Actions
Do X          
Do Y          
Do Z          
Do Nothing            
Call Repair