Business Process Modeling – BPM

Business Process Modeling (BPM) is a methodology used by organizations to visualize, understand, and improve their business processes. It’s a way to create a detailed map or model of a work process, which can then be analyzed and optimized.  

BPM involves techniques and tools for the representation, simulation, execution, and analysis of business processes. A business process is a task sequence that accomplishes a specific organizational goal.  

BPM is a dynamic practice, meaning that organizations should continually update their models as their processes evolve. It can be used in virtually any organization, from manufacturing to service industries and from large corporations to small businesses.  

 Its ultimate goal is to enhance organizational performance by improving process efficiency and effectiveness while promoting innovation, flexibility, and integration with technology.

Key BPM Details

Here are some key aspects of BPM:

1. Graphical Representation: Business processes are typically modeled using Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN), a standard set of symbols and diagrams to represent processes and workflows visually. This can include flowcharts, data-flow diagrams, or other types of charts.
2. Understanding and Improvement: By modeling their business processes, organizations can gain a deep understanding of the processes’ inner workings. This can help identify bottlenecks, inefficiencies, or areas of the process that can be improved.
3. Process Standardization: BPM can be used to standardize processes across an organization. This ensures that everyone follows the same procedures, improving efficiency and consistency.
4. Automation: Many BPM tools have features that allow for automating specific tasks in the process. This can significantly reduce the time and effort required to perform these tasks, increasing efficiency.
5. Communication and Collaboration: A BPM model provides a shared reference point that all stakeholders can understand. This promotes communication and collaboration, as everyone can see how their tasks fit into the broader context.
6. Performance Monitoring: BPM often includes establishing key performance indicators (KPIs) to monitor the effectiveness and efficiency of a process. By analyzing these metrics, businesses can continually refine and optimize their operations.
7. Risk Management: By modeling a business process, a company can identify and plan for potential risks accordingly. This can reduce the impact of any problems that might arise during the execution of the process.

BPM Historical Background

The roots of business process modeling can be traced back to Frederick Winslow Taylor’s works in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Taylor introduced the concepts of scientific management and work process optimization.

However, it wasn’t until the 1960s that the formal approach to BPM started to develop, with the advent of various systems analysis and design methods in software engineering.   

As we understand it today, BPM has been heavily influenced by the growth of information technology, particularly in data processing and workflow management systems.  

What is Business Process Modeling? – 6 mins