Here I try to answer all of the questions asked of my by clients or visitors to this website.
I sometimes ask questions that have occurred to me during my work with clients or as a result of other questions asked and have tried to answer these too.
If you have any questions please feel free to ask them. If you have any better answers than I have given then please give them.
In response to a recent post I got a comment from a reader suggesting that what I called a Function was a Capability. In this post I explain how I align Capability with the standard English meaning of the word, i.e. what an enterprise is capable of doing. Capability actually couples a Function with elements that increase its depth, scope, productivity, etc. These elements could include knowledge, technology, product portfolio, geography, and many others.
[I wrote the following comments in response to a blog that was advocating starting off by modeling the "as is" processes in the business as the starting point for business improvement.]
One of the major errors taken in business analysis and modeling is that of modeling the “As Is”, then the “To Be” and then trying [...]
[This post also comes as a Podcast - Please scroll to bottom of page]
One of the greatest areas for confusion in the world of business systems modeling is the terminology used to name the activities performed by a business.
Are these activities Processes, Functions, Mechanisms or Procedures?
The answer is “all of the above”. Does this mean that these terms are synonyms? No [...]
I wrote this response to as a result of being asked the question “what is a Systems Analyst?”
The term ‘Systems Analyst‘ is now outmoded. It used be applied to those analysts who did ‘requirements analysis’ prior to computerizing a part of the business.
These people usually worked in the IT Department of large enterprises and saw the world only in [...]
A newcomer to this subject asked me the question “Where do I start and what are the stages in Data Modeling?”. Here, in brief, is the answer I gave.
The first step in data modeling is data analysis. This means gathering information that will tell you what data entities are required by the business.
You then need to model [...]
Data is an invaluable asset. Not only is it essential for successfully supporting current operations but it will enable you to plan the future growth and success of your enterprise.
To this end Data Management is essential.
Effective Data Management needs an effective Data Architecture.
An effective Data Architecture can only be achieved by doing high quality [...]
A question I was recently asked was which of these two is the most effective Project Management Methodology.
Prince2 is very formulaic - some might say bureaucratic - and most be followed strictly if it is the defined methodology for the project. PMP is more of a guide of best project management practice.
All good Project Managers [...]
“Must a Business Function always create or transform data or information?” was question I was asked by a computing student last week.
The simple answer is “yes“, But is is a very definitive “YES“. Because, if a “Business Function” does not create or transform information, then it is NOT a genuine Business Function.
This is one simple but essential quality check [...]
One of the first questions that many of you will be asking is “does this guy not know how to spell ‘modeling’?”, others will be asking “does this guy not know how to spell ‘modelling’?”.
Does it have one “L” or two. Well the answer is both! We deal with a global audience and for [...]
Data in a business can often exist in many states. For example, a theatre booking could possibly exist in the states of “provisional”, “cancelled”, “confirmed”, “transferred”, “picked up”. If such were the case it might be essential to know what Business Functions move the booking from one state to the next.
Data State Modeling is the [...]
Before computerising any Business Functions it is essential to identify and model the data used or created by these Functions and its relationship to other data items (or data entities) within the business.
This is where the Data Structure Model - often referred to as an Entity Relationship Diagram or ERD - is an indispensable model.
It is [...]
Process Models show the order in which Business Functions are carried out. Procedure Models show the detail of HOW the functions within the process are carried out.
Procedure Modeling is the ideal technique to use when you want to show the detailed actions for a post of position when executing a step (Business Function) within [...]
When it is important to know and show how information flows into, around and out of the business, Information Flow Modeling is the technique to use.
This shows how information flows between Business Functions within the business and between Business Functions in the business and External Entities, such as suppliers, customers, government, etc., in the outside world.
All [...]
Business Process Modeling tells us the order in which Business Functions ought to be carried out in response to a Trigger in order to arrive at a business Outcome. This outcome may be a “Preferred Outcome” or a “Non-Preferred Outcome”.
The Integrated Modeling Method (IMM™) shows you how to model Business Processes in a way that makes them:
easy [...]
Function modeling lies at the HEART of all good business systems analysis, business process modeling and BPM.
The very first stage in good business modeling is to identify and model WHAT the business OUGHT to be doing. The discrete activities that a business does are called Business Functions or, less formally, Functions.
The Function Catalogue, which is a [...]
