Guide to Business Process Modelling

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Guide toBusiness Process Modelling
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Contents

• What is business process modelling?
• What is process mapping?
• Why and when is process mapping used?
• How to produce a process map
• Draw and label the swimlanes
• Add in the process flows
• Swap lanes and show decision points
• Complete the process map
• Example process map
• Further assistance

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What is business process modelling?
Business process modelling is a means of
representing the steps, participants and decision
logic in business processes. There are three
main types of process models

1. Descriptive models written explanations of the
   processes
2. Active models a working model that represents
   the processes (eg. computer simulations)
3. Diagrammatical models a diagram that shows the
   processes and the relationships between them (eg.
   process maps and flowcharts.)

This guide will focus on process maps.
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What is process mapping?
Process mapping is a technique of diagrammatical
modelling. The diagram represents a series of
processes and how they are related. Process
mapping provides a representation of who does
what and in what order.
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Why and when is process mapping used?
Process mapping helps to clarify the steps
involved in a particular process.

• It is used for
• understanding the current processes
• clarifying responsibilities
• identifying process inefficiencies
• designing new procedures
• training

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How to produce a process map

• Consult with the experts. These are the people
  managing and working with the process.
• Identify the boundaries. Where does the process
  begin? where does it end?
• Identify the participants. What roles are
  involved in the processes?
• Hand draw the process in front of the expert,
  getting then to confirm the steps.
• Identify the steps. What is done first? What is
  done next? By who?
• Identify the decision points. What are the
  alternatives? What determines which alternative
  is chosen?
• Draw an initial process flow. Draw and label the
  swim lanes (see next slide for details) using
  standard symbols.
• Check for completeness. Are all participants
  represented? Are all processes shown? Are there
  any alternatives that have not been considered?
  Refine and finalise.
• Review with the experts to ensure completeness.

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Draw and label the swim lanes
Employee
Supervisor
Administration
The swim lanes represent the area of involvement
of each participant who has a role in the
processes being mapped. The participant may be
an individual, a team, a department or an
organisation.
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Add in the process flows
1.1 Fill out expense form
1.2 Submit expense form
Employee
Supervisor
Administration
Starting at top left with the start symbol.
Draw processes along the swim lane, and use
arrows to represent the sequence. Each process
is given a number, and starts with a verb.
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Swap lanes and enter decision points
1.4.1 notification to employee
1.1 Fill out expense form
1.2 Submit expense form
Employee
No
1.4 Expenses Valid?
1.5 Submit authorised expense form
1.3 Receive expense form
Supervisor
Yes
Administration
When a process is performed by a different
participant switch lanes. If the next step
depends on a decision show this as in the example
above, labelling the alternatives and showing the
steps that follow.
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Complete the process map
Remove any unused swim lanes. Make sure there is
one start point and all flows have an end
point. Check that all decision points have all
options labelled and have flow arrows to the next
step. Review with participants for
verification. An example of a completed process
map is shown on the next slide.
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Business process 1 Process expense claim
1.1 Fill out expense form
1.2 Submit expense form
1.8.1 notification to employee
1.4.1 notification to employee
Employee
m
m
No
1.3 Receive expense form
1.5 Submit authorised expense form
1.4 Expenses Valid?
Yes
m
m
m
Supervisor
1.8 Make payment
1.6 Receive expense form
m
sol
1.7 Log expense form
Administration
sol
M manual
Sol facilitated by solution