Approaches in Modelling the Enterprise
Various visual models depict different aspects of the Enterprise. Below follows a selection of some of the key methodologies used in process modelling.
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RACI
A RACI diagram is used to describe the roles and responsibilities of various teams or people in delivering a project or operating a process. It is especially useful in clarifying roles and responsibilities in cross-functional or cross-departmental projects and processes.
Responsible - Those who do the work to complete the task (multiple resources responsible)
Accountable - The resource answerable for the quality completion of the task (one resource per task)
Consulted - Those whose opinions are sought regarding the task (two-way communication)
Informed - Those who are kept up-to-date on the progress of the task (one-way communication)
Z - Framework approach
The Zachman Framework is a framework for business architecture, which provides a structured way of defining the enterprise. A two-dimensional classification model is used, based on the six basic aspects of communication, namely "What?", "How?", "Where?", "Who?", "When?", and "Why?". These have been intersected with six model types which relate to stakeholder groups, that is, the Visionary, Owner, Designer, Builder, Implementer and Worker. This intersection makes provision for an integrated view of the enterprise landscape. John Zachman is a highly regarded visionary in the area of Enterprise Architecture.
Event driven Process Chain approach (EPC)
Event driven Process Chain (EPC) diagrams illustrate business process work flows, and as a concept forms an important part of the SAP R/3 modelling process of business engineering. EPC diagrams use graphical symbols to show the control flow structure of a business process as a chain of events and functions. Microsoft Visio is used for the front-end modelling.
The EPC building blocks are:
Functions - each function corresponds to an executed activity.
Events - occur before and/or after a function is executed. Functions are linked by events.
Connectors - associate activities and events. (Types AND, OR, and exclusive OR (XOR)).
Unified Modelling Language (UML)
For the field of software engineering, the Unified Modelling Language (UML) is a standardised specification language for object modelling with a rich graphical notation, and comprehensive set of diagrams and elements. UML is a general-purpose modelling language which includes a graphical notation used to create an abstract model of a system, referred to as a UML model. It is a process-independent notation system (there is no dependency on particular development processes).