| EPSRC Reference: |
GR/K08116/01 |
| Title: |
MODELLING AND MAPPING THE BUSINESS PROCESS |
| Principal Investigator: |
Henderson, Professor P |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Department: |
Electronics and Computer Science |
| Organisation: |
University of Southampton |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
01 October 1994 |
Ends: |
30 June 1998 |
Value (£): |
221,634
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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To further develop formal ways of modelling business processes so that the effect of business process change on the installed IT system can be better predicted and controlled. To find how the business model maps onto the distributed IT system so that the ramifications of future changes in the business process can be estimated.Progress:We have examined the 'state of the art' process modelling tools that are currently available; including RADitor, Process Wise WorkBench, and Stella II. Our aim is to investigate how these tools can assist in providing a clear, complete view of the business process. We are also examining what kind of process insights each tool gives us, in order to be able to tailor appropriate tools to modelling contexts. Therefore the capabilities of the tools, and their advantages and disadvantages have been evaluated. We have taken two existing process modelling paradigms CSP and Role Activity Diagrams (RADs), and applied them to a business process: specifically shopping or how retailers process customers. Our CSP model has been implemented in Enact, in order to give us the ability to run simple simulations, and thus prove the logic of the model. Our RAD model has been produced using both the RADitor tool (and its RAD extensions) and by using the original RAD notations. By investigating the mapping between these notations we can produce an equivalent description of processes using a graphical notation (RADs) and an enactable notation (CSP). This enables us to present users with an accessible model of their process, whilst we still retain the advantage of being able to experiment with the process logic (and test it) using its equivalent description. We have written a report detailing these ideas. We are currently investigating the advantages and disadvantages of the Process Oriented System Design (POSD) notation in business process modelling. Our expectation of this notation is to be able to use it as a framework for other modelling paradigms. In addition we believe that POSD may give us the ability to abstract out different views of the same underlying process detail. ICL are acting as an uncle for the project. We have also recently instigated collaboration with a major producer of telecommunications equipment, to undertake modelling of their business processes. The report referred to above, and other relevant information, is available by following appropriate links from page http:/ /louis.ecs.soton.ac.uk/~ph/cv.html.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.soton.ac.uk |