Individual Assignment Ⅰ

Business Process Modelling

OPM 4101: Business Process Analysis and Designing

Lecturer: W. D. C. K. T. Kumarasiri
Registration Number: MG/18/159
Submission Date: 11.06.2023
First Semester 2022/2023

Department of Operations Management

Faculty of Management
University of Peradeniya

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 Table of Content

1. Business Process Model…………………………………………....... [3]

2. Business Process Modelling Techniques…………………………..... [3]

 Flowchart……………………………………………….... [3]

 Business Process Modelling Technique………………..... [3]

 Unified Modelling Language……………………………. [4]

 Data Flow Diagrams…………………………………….. [4]

 Value Stream Mapping…………………………..…........ [4]

3. Symbol Used by the BPM Techniques……………………………...... [5]

4. Software that facilitate to the BPM Techniques…………………….... [8]

5. Comparison of BPM techniques…………………………………….... [9]

6. Any Other Relevant Information……………………………………... [10]

7. Flowchart of Airport Ticket booking service………………………… [11]

8. Conclusion…………………………………………………………… [12]

9. Reference ……………………………………………………………. [12]

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 1. Business Process Model (BPM)

BPM is a crucial tool for organizations to enhance operational performance. It

involves creating visual representations of the current state of a process, providing a
simplified view of complex operational realities. By identifying process bottlenecks,
improving efficiency and effectiveness, managing change, and integrating business
processes across organizational boundaries, BPM helps organizations achieve specific
goals and optimize their operations.

2. Business Process Modelling Techniques

BPM techniques provide organizations with a systematic and structured approach to

managing their business processes. By using these techniques, organizations can drive
operational excellence, increase agility, enhance customer satisfaction, and achieve
their strategic goals and organizations analyse, design, and improve their business
processes.

There are several business process modeling techniques available to support specific
business needs. Businesses entail to choose as per the requirements of their business.
Some of the main techniques are indicates below:

 Flowcharts:

Flowcharts is general tool that describe complex process flows in a simple yet
effective way. It is a visual tool that helps illustrate the sequence of actions involved
in completing a particular task or achieving a specific goal.

Example: - A flowchart might be used for educational purposes, such as to teach a

process to students or during staff training.

 Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN):

BPMN is a widely used standardized and visually intuitive manner. which is popular
among large enterprises around the world. The graphical notation helps organizations
to visualize, document, communicate and analyse business processes and use to
discuss process using a common language effectively.

Example: - Loan Approval Process:

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Model the process from loan application submission to final decision.

Activities: application review, credit check, documentation verification, risk

assessment, and approval/rejection.

 Unified Modelling Language (UML):

UML activity diagrams are essential for illustrating the design of a system in a way
that is understandable to all stakeholders, business analysts, and people without
programming knowledge. They can be used to show the flow of data and control
between different parts of a system.

Example: - Airport check-in and security screening business model, online shopping
credit card process.

 Data Flow Diagrams (DFD):

DFD show the movement of data through a process. It used to identify where data
enters and leaves the process and how it is transformed along the way. helping to
identify data dependencies and potential bottlenecks.

Example :-DFD for library management system

Inputs Book request when a student requests for a book.

Output - Book will be the output as the book demanded by the student will be given to
them.

 Value Stream Mapping (VSM):

Value Stream Mapping is a technique used to analyze and improve the flow of materials and
information in a process. It emphasizes identifying value-added and non-value-added
activities to optimize process efficiency.

Example: - Manufacturing a product, fulfilling an order, admitting, and treating a

medical patient, providing a loan, or delivering a professional service.

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 3. Symbol Used by the BPM Techniques.

This BPM technique used different kind of symbols. Which helps understanding,
analysing, and communicating complex processes in a more clear and concise
manner.

 Flowchart

Source: purplezeus.com, Research article by N. Biddle, n.d. 2016

 BPMN

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 Source: Anna Suchenia,2017

 UML

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 DFD

Source: wondershare.com, Peter Martinez2023

 VSM

Source: Research article, Rushil Batra,2016

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 4. Software that facilitate to the BPM Techniques.

There are several software tools available that facilitate the creation and visualization
of these techniques. flowcharts. Here indicates some popular software for each
techniques.

 Flowcharts
 Microsoft Visio
 Lucid chart
 Edraw max
 BPM
 Bizagi Modeler
 Signavio
 Lucid chart
 . UML
 Enterprise Architect
 ARIS
 Visual Paradigm
 DFD
 Microsoft Visio
 IBM Blueworks Live
 ARIS
 VSM
 Lucidchart
 VSM Software
 Microsoft Visio

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 5. Comparison of BPM techniques.

BPM Symbol represent Uses Objective

techniques
Flowchart Different process General tool use to create a graphical
steps, decisions, Simple & wide range representation of the
inputs, and outputs. of processes but can steps in a process to
become complex better understand it
and reveal
opportunities for
improvement.
BPMN Activities, events, Specialized tool Provide clear
gateways, and apply more complex communication and
process flows. process collaboration
between, various
departments of
business and
stakeholders.
UML UML diagrams Used for visualizing, Provides a
such as class specifying, standardized way to
diagrams and constructing, and represent different
structure diagrams documenting aspects of a system,
to achieve the software systems. including behavior,
required specificity. structure, and
interactions.
DFD Processes, data Analyzing data It emphasizes the
stores, data flows, dependencies and flow of data and how
and external designing it is processed within
entities. information software the process
systems.

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VSM Flow of information Lean management Identifying and
and inventory tool use visualizes eliminating waste,
within a system. and analyze the flow reducing lead times,
of materials and and improving
information. overall efficiency.

6. Any Other Relevant Information

Flowcharts: The only drawback is that flowcharts are useful for simple
representations but cannot model complex interactions in a single diagram. It’s a
common process analysis tool and one of the seven basic quality tools.

BPMN; The BPMN can help developers capture needed information to create a
complete UML model of software in development. It contains standards for data
objects, but it does not capture all events in the data lifecycle therefore DFD is
recommended.

DFD; Takes a long time to create and does not give any information about the timing,
sequence, and synchronization of processes.

UML: is a more complex, time-consuming, costly, overemphasizing design.

Value and non-value-adding activities.

VSM; might not be the best tool for process activities where time, materials, and
participants are highly variable.

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7. Flowchart for Airport Ticket booking service.

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8. Conclusion
These BPM techniques can be used individually or in combination, depending on the
complexity and requirements of the process being modeled. Each technique has its
strengths and focuses on different aspects of process modeling, allowing
organizations to choose the most suitable approach for their specific needs.

9. Reference

BPMN diagram symbols & notation (no date) Lucidchart. Available at:
https://www.lucidchart.com/pages/bpmn-symbols-explained (Accessed: 05 June
2023).

Hendrikse, N. (2021) 10 business process modelling techniques, GetSmarter Blog.

Available at: https://www.getsmarter.com/blog/career-advice/10-business-
process-modelling-techniques/ (Accessed: 05 June 2023).

Kissflow (2023) Business process modeling: Definition, why, technique and benefits,
Kissflow. Available at: https://kissflow.com/workflow/bpm/business-process-
modeling/#:~:text=Flowcharts%20explain%20complex%20process%20flows,to
%20display%20advanced%20process%20flows. (Accessed: 05 June 2023).

Tucci, L. (2022) What is business process management? an in-depth BPM Guide,

CIO. Available at: https://www.techtarget.com/searchcio/definition/business-
process-management (Accessed: 05 June 2023).

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