1. Process Modeling System Analysis & Design Course
Sharif University of Technology
MohammadAmin Fazli

2. Organization as Set of Processes
Business Process Management framework
Organizational/business process is a set of activities connected from a start to an end point, which provides a specific deliverable to a customer (inside or outside of the organization). The deliverable has a measurable value for the customer.
Any operation can be thought of as a process (hiring, pay, production, accounting, IS support, purchasing, sale, delivery, customer service…).

3. Process Approach and Business Effects
IS can be part of a process to various extents (“system footprint”).
Better performing process (faster, cheaper, more valuable for the customer) increases organizational performance (revenue, profit, market share…).
Organizational
Performance
Process Design
Process Performance
Information System
improves
causes

4. BPR & CPI

5. What is Business Process Mapping?
Visual description of business process, related activities, input and output
Model of the business process
Governance
Process
Supplier
Customer
Input
Output
Resources

6. Why is it Required?
Document the business process, which could include the operations/activities, inputs, outputs and roles involved in the business process.
Provide an “official reference” on the business process and a common understanding of what is involved.
Facilitate the analysis of current process (As-Is) and redesign of improved process (To-Be).
Aid in the identification of critical process parameters.

7. Types of Business Process Maps
Process can be modelled at different levels, from the high strategic level to the operational / tactical level.
Variety of process maps and methodologies:
Process Landscape Diagram
Supplier-Input-Process-Output-Customer (SIPOC) Diagram
Process Flow Diagram
Swim-lane Flow Chart
Process Flow with RACI matrix
Value Stream Map

8. Process Landscape Diagram
Based on Porter’s value chain concept
Typically formulated based on strategic intent of the business

9. SIPOC Diagram Macro level of end-to-end process A goods out process B
transport C
goods in process
Transit
Production
Pick from stock
Put away
to stock
Ship material
Transport material
Receive
material
DC Stock
Finished goods stock T0 T1 T2 T3 t4 T4 t1 t2 t3
TT = Transit Time

10. Process Flow Diagram
Example (Page1/2)

11. Process Flow Diagram
Example (Page2/2)

12. Swim-Lane Flow Chart

13. Process Flow Diagram with RACI Matrix

14. Value Stream Map

15. Common Pitfalls in Process Mapping
Not defining the start and end of the process clearly
Confusing the use of operation block and decision block
Poor discipline in using a consistent convention
Criss-cross of process flow arrows leading to confusion
Mapping without involving the right stakeholders
Failure to perform a process walkthrough to verify the accuracy of the process mapped
Failure to update the process map document as a “live” reference

16. Activity Diagram (AD) concept
A diagram used for showing systems requirements; results from process analysis
AD depicts:
a business process (workflow), manual & automated (carried by an IS as part of process); a system function - frog’s perspective, micro level
sometimes AD represents flow of processes - bird’s eye, macro level
process logic – time order of process steps (activities) & decision points
actors (touch system), business event sources (initiate actors to work)
AD resembles old flow charts and data flow diagram

17. AD components – Quote Process
Who/What performs
activity *
Start
Swimlane
(column)
Activity,
Process step
Time
approxi-
mation
Process
flow (control)
Decision point;
yes/no branching
Loop, one technique: decision + flow back
End
* System=information system (sometimes just “computer”).

18. AD components – Parallel Steps
Synchronization Bars,
indicate parallel
steps
Provide Technical Details
Parallel steps, run at the same time

19. Gateway concept
Diamond shape – decision - is also called Gateway * (see Note)
Exclusive (EXOR) decision: do one or another;
same as
Mail
type?
Inclusive (OR) decision:
do one or more;
more compact than EXOR
split
process
merge
Seek
investor
Parallel activities (AND):
do all;
same as synchronization
bars
* Some symbols are part of Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN) more than on Unified Modeling Language (UML) used in
the system development methodology we study. For example, BMNP users insist on EXOR with the “x” inside the diamond, while UML
users prefer a blank diamond. However, this is not always so.
More than binary branching possible

20. AD for Customer Order Process by Telephone – more components
Decision shown as Activity:
- N outflows
- Outflows
named * **
Loop
Another method:
1. loop bars
2. enter & exit
condition
*Perhaps a more appropriate wording could be, “Search and Display current customer record.”.
**A separate function with a separate activity diagram.
Pasting activities with “/” to save space

21. What AD does not show? Data passed between steps
(Data flow diagram shows it – part of structural methodology)
Objects
(But they can be inferred; e.g., Customer, Order, Clerk)
User interface
(Clerk--System connection)

22. How to create AD Identify activities (steps) of a process
Identify who/what performs activities (process steps)
Draw swimlanes
Identify decision points (if-then)
Determine if a step is in loop (For each…, or if-then loop)
Determine if step is parallel with some other
Identify order of activities, decision points
Continues…

23. How to create AD (cont.) You can tabulate these data (see next slide).
Draw the start point of the process in the swimlane of the first activity (step)
Draw the oval of the first activity (step)
Draw an arrow to the location of the second step
Draw subsequent steps, while inserting decision points and synchronization/loop bars where appropriate
Draw the end point after the last step.
You can tabulate these data (see next slide).

24. How to create AD (cont.) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Step ID Process Activity
or Decision
Who/What
Performs
Parallel
Activity
Loop
Preced-ing Step 1
Request quote
Customer No - 2
Develop requirement notes
Salesperson
Yes 3
Decision: Help? 4
Salesperson enters data 5
Check requirements
Technical Expert 6
Tech. expert enters data 7
Calculate quote
System
4, 6 8
Review quote 9
Decision: Changes? 10
Accept quote as order

25. AD Example, macro level: Online customer ordering of integrated travel services involving different firms
Online customer ordering of integrated travel services * +
Travel Services Integrator *
*The diagram uses two different symbols for parallel activities (a bar and a “do all” gateway) – an inconsistency.

26. AD Example, micro level: Process of purchasing transportation ticket
Commuting
Ticket
Purchasing
Process
Select
trip
payment
Display
trip details
Payment
type?
Cash
payment?
yes no
Display trip
list
Syncing EXOR 
(optional)
Material thing 
*A better position is the TWM swimlane because the ending is automatic without the commuter’s intervention.
Material thing  *