Progressive refinement model for business processes

• US 20070226022A1
• Filed: 05/05/2005
• Published: 09/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Siebel Systems Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Yaseen, Rahim, Lim, Peter, Smith, Doug, Liang, John, Das, Manoj, Noik, Emanuel
• Granted Patent: US 7,809,597 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/10 Requirements analysis; Specification techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0633 Workflow analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0637 Strategic management or analysis, e.g. setting a goal or target of an organisation; Planning actions based on goals; Analysis or evaluation of effectiveness of goals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/067 Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method for refining a business process model includes receiving business process data pertaining to a first phase of a business process definition from a first class of users, creating a model of a business process using the business process data received from the first class of users, receiving business process data pertaining to a second phase of the business process definition from a second class of users, and augmenting the model of the business process based on the business process data received from the second class of users. The method further includes iteratively refining the model of the business process in response to input provided by the first class of users and/or the second class of users.

Claims

1. A computerized method comprising:

receiving business process data pertaining to a first phase of a business process definition from a first class of users;

creating a model of a business process using the business process data received from the first class of users;

receiving business process data pertaining to a second phase of the business process definition from a second class of users;

augmenting the model of the business process based on the business process data received from the second class of users; and

iteratively refining the model of the business process in response to input provided by at least one of the first class of users and the second class of users.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the first class of users represents business analysts; and

the first phase of the business process definition is a specification of the business process.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the second class of users represents software developers; and

the second phase of the business process definition is an implementation of the business process.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving business process data pertaining to a third phase of the business process definition from a third class of users;

augmenting the model of the business process based on the business process data received from the third class of users.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein:

the third class of users represents consultants familiar with requirements of a customer; and

the third phase of the business process definition is a customization of the business process.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

collecting execution statistics for the business process; and

presenting the execution statistics to at least one of the first and second classes of users to assist in refinement of the model.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the model of the business process includes a set of model elements and associations defining relationships between the model elements from the set.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

tracing model elements and associations pertaining to the first class of users and model elements and associations pertaining to the second class of users.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

preventing the first class of users from modifying model elements and associations pertaining to the second class of users; and

preventing the second class of users from modifying model elements and associations pertaining to the first class of users.

10. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

creating different usage patterns from a subset of model elements for different phases of model refinement.

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

providing multiple view points of the model to different classes of users.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein business process data pertaining to the second phase of the business process definition is received for different execution targets from different users within the second class.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

tracing model elements and associations pertaining to different execution targets.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

providing multiple view points of the model for different execution targets.

15. A machine-readable medium having executable instructions to cause a machine to perform a method comprising:

receiving business process data pertaining to a first phase of a business process definition from a first class of users;

creating a model of a business process using the business process data received from the first class of users;

receiving business process data pertaining to a second phase of the business process definition from a second class of users;

augmenting the model of the business process based on the business process data received from the second class of users; and

iteratively refining the model of the business process in response to input provided by at least one of the first class of users and the second class of users.

16. The machine-readable medium of claim 15 wherein:

the first class of users represents business analysts;

the first phase of the business process definition is a specification of the business process;

the second class of users represents software developers; and

the second phase of the business process definition is an implementation of the business process.

17. The machine-readable medium of claim 15 wherein the method further comprises:

collecting execution statistics for the business process; and

presenting the execution statistics to at least one of the first and second classes of users to assist in refinement of the model.

18. The machine-readable medium of claim 15 wherein the model of the business process includes a set of model elements and associations defining relationships between the model elements from the set.

19. The machine-readable medium of claim 18 wherein the method further comprises:

tracing model elements and associations pertaining to the first class of users and model elements and associations pertaining to the second class of users.

20. A system comprising:

a memory; and

at least on processor coupled to the memory, the processor executing a set of instructions which cause the processor to

receive business process data pertaining to a first phase of a business process definition from a first class of users,

create a model of a business process using the business process data received from the first class of users,

receive business process data pertaining to a second phase of the business process definition from a second class of users,

augment the model of the business process based on the business process data received from the second class of users, and

iteratively refine the model of the business process in response to input provided by at least one of the first class of users and the second class of users.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein:

the first class of users represents business analysts;

the first phase of the business process definition is a specification of the business process;

the second class of users represents software developers; and

the second phase of the business process definition is an implementation of the business process.

22. The system of claim 20 wherein the processor is further to collect execution statistics for the business process, and present the execution statistics to at least one of the first and second classes of users to assist in refinement of the model.

23. A computer-implemented apparatus comprising:

means for receiving business process data pertaining to a first phase of a business process definition from a first class of users;

means for creating a model of a business process using the business process data received from the first class of users;

means for receiving business process data pertaining to a second phase of the business process definition from a second class of users;

means for augmenting the model of the business process based on the business process data received from the second class of users; and

means for iteratively refining the model of the business process in response to input provided by at least one of the first class of users and the second class of users.