Versions Compared

Key

  • This line was added.
  • This line was removed.
  • Formatting was changed.
Info

A Business Process Model (BPM) is a conceptual representation of an organization's business processes. It's used to visualize, define, and analyze these processes to ensure they are optimized, effective, and reflective of the business's goals.

A BPM often takes the form of a flowchart or diagram, which provides a step-by-step map of a process, from start to finish. It serves as a blueprint that can be understood by various stakeholders including managers, employees, and other business professionals.

Here are some key elements often found in a Business Process Model:

  1. Processes: These are sequences of tasks or activities designed to produce a specific output. Each process in a BPM has a clear start and end point, and is composed of multiple steps that the process "flows" through.

  2. Tasks: Tasks are individual units of work or activity that make up a process.

  3. Decisions: These are decision points within a process where the flow can go in more than one direction based on certain conditions.

  4. Actors: These are the individuals or systems that carry out the tasks. Actors may be internal staff, external partners, or automated systems.

  5. Events: Events trigger or interrupt processes or tasks. They are represented as circles in most business process modeling notations.

  6. Flows: These represent the sequence in which tasks are carried out. They connect different elements within the model and direct the process from start to finish.

  7. Swimlanes: These are used to group tasks by the actor responsible for them. They provide clarity on roles and responsibilities, and can help identify inefficiencies in task allocation.

A popular notation for business process modeling is Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN). It provides a standard set of symbols and notation, making it easier for stakeholders to understand the model.

Creating a business process model allows an organization to examine its processes objectively, identify areas of inefficiency or redundancy, and improve those processes for better productivity, efficiency, and effectiveness. It also facilitates communication and understanding of processes among stakeholders.

...