Description:

Whether a new application is purchased or custom-developed, it’s almost certain that improved or redesigned business processes will be involved.  This workshop will give business analysts a solid exposure to the modelling and analysis of a process workflow, the key phases and techniques, and the issues that must be addressed. With initiatives like enterprise application implementation and e-commerce driving the redesign of business processes, these skills can make a real difference to a project’s success. 

The workshop complements the techniques covered in our Data Modelling and Use Cases and Services workshops, and integrates proven analysis techniques with developments from fields such as business process management and quality management.  First, participants will learn the key factors to consider when dealing with business processes, and then how to specify the scope and goals of a business process, model the current workflow, assess it, and apply three critical process redesign techniques. 

Key principles are illustrated throughout with workshop exercises and discussions. Business professionals with responsibility for improving their processes and business analysts needing solid techniques will both benefit from this workshop. 

Objectives:

On workshop completion, participants will be able to:

  • Identify a “true” business process, and specify its boundaries and goals

  • Describe the key factors that differentiate process and functional approaches

  •  Employ a variety of techniques to keep stakeholders involved, and promote “process orientation”

  • Establish the scope, issues, and goals for a business process

  • Model a process with progressive detail using Scope Models and Swimlane Diagrams

  • Stop process modelling at the appropriate point, and move on to other techniques or phases

  • Conduct a structured, enabler-based assessment of a business process

  • Transition to the feature-based design of a new process while avoiding common pitfalls      

Prerequisites:

None. However, business analysts who expect to do extensive workflow modelling will find that some understanding of information systems concepts may be helpful in establishing context.

Target Audience:

Anyone involved in Business Analysis, Business Change, Business Architecture, and Business Process Management (BPM) especially BPM professionals, Process Analysts and Designers, Business and Process Architects, Business Analysts, and Project / Programme Managers. Also, Business Managers and Subject Matter Experts responsible for effecting process change, organisation Development professionals needing to learn more about business processes, and anyone involved in process-driven solution development.

Course Topics:

  • Thinking in process terms – concepts, terminology, principles, and techniques

  • A three-phase approach to completing a process-oriented project

  • Discovering your organisation’s processes – top-down and bottom-up approaches

  • Developing a Process Scope Model - clarifying boundaries, contents, and purpose

  • Answering “Why?” - initial assessment of the "as-is" and goal-setting for the “to-be”

  • Adding detail in a controlled fashion – building an Augmented Scope Model

  • Modelling process workflow – practical tips and techniques for using swimlane diagrams

  • Controlling detail – two levels of workflow model, and when to stop modelling

  • Modelling to the as-is process – facilitating a workflow session

  • Enabler-based assessment of the as-is process – a framework for assessment and redesign

  • A feature-based approach to design – generating creative improvements and assessing them

  • Wrap-up – summary, tips, and resources