Create a BPM.
Why use a BPM?
A business process model aims to convey a process through an easy-to-understand visual representation. Its main audience is the individuals that are involved in the process, as well as those that may modify and implement a new and improved process.
A diagram can be easier to understand than a narrative of text can be. Developing a business process model allows you to better communicate and collaborate with stakeholders that are impacted by a process.
Below is a sample BPM:
(Lucidchart, 2020
(Links to an external site.)
)
The business process model above showcases the flow of a process, and who is involved as the process starts and finishes.
How do I make a BPM?
There are different types of BPMs, but for this assignment, you will make a BPM called “Swimlane Diagram” (the same as the example above).
To make one of these, you’ll need to consider the following before getting started:
What process do I want to visualize? (E.g., sales, returns, shipments, student enrollment, etc.)
Who is involved in the process? (E.g., customer, sales team, management, credit card department)
What does each person in the process do? (E.g, purchase product, fill out credit form, complete an order form, etc.). Once you know this, you’ll know what goes in each of the ‘lanes’ of a swimlane diagram (each lane is what that person does).
In what order does each person do their piece of the process? (E.g., the customer selects a product, then goes to the register, then gets charged)
What about the symbols?
We’re not going to go into intermediate and advanced flow-chart symbols for this assignment, rather we are going to focus on the following four basic symbols:
The Oval
The Oval:
Also known as the “Terminator”.
Indicates the start and end of a process.
The Rectangle
The Rectangle:
You’ll be using this the most.
It represents any step that you are diagramming – it captures the process steps (basic actions and tasks in your process).
The Arrow
The Arrow:
It is used as a guide for directional flow.
It tells the reader what is coming next.
I recommend sticking with the same type of arrow throughout the creation of the flow-chart (there are many to choose from).
The Diamond
The Diamond:
It indicates that a decision is required to move forward.
This can be binary (meaning this or that) or could have more than two choices.
With the four symbols above, you are well equipped to make a basic swimlane diagram (and colors do not matter for the assignment).
What do I need to do for this assignment?
I would like for you to pick a business process that is relevant to your respective major and for you to document how you think it works from start to finish. We’ve all been involved in business processes, even if we have not realized so. Remember that last time that you went to a grocery store? You were part of a business process. Remember that last time you bought something on Amazon? You were part of a business process.
Write a brief narrative on what the swimlane process conveys (tell me what the business process is for) – 4-6 sentences. The brief narrative should tell me the following:
What is your major?
Who is in the process?
What is the process for?
Develop a swimlane diagram for a business process using Lucidchart
(Links to an external site.)
. (must be submitted as a PDF and not as an image when uploading to Canvas)
minimum 3 actors (the swim-lanes)
minimum 10 steps in the process (the rectangles)
minimum 1 decision (the diamonds)
