MIS 2000 Information Systems for Management
Instructor: Bob Travica
Class 4
Process
Diagramming
Updated September 2012
Outline
• Figuring out a process
• Creating process diagram
• Class exercise
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Figuring Out a Process 1/4
Description of business – how a customer order is fulfilled:
• When a customer places an order with Computers International,
a Sales clerk opens an order, using a Sales System that adds a
new order to a database. Then, the Sales clerk fills the order in
the system, and the details area stored in the Sales System.
COMMENT: Process has components, like activities (actions) some
actor (person, an IS, or IT) performs.
Actions
Actor
– Place Order
Customer
– Open Order
Sales Clerk
– Add New Order
Sales System (Information System)
– Fill Order
Sales Clerk
– Store Order
Sales System
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Figuring Out a Process 2/4
• Next, a shipping clerk books a shipment with a carrier company,
and selects a rush or regular service, depending on what kind of
delivery the customer ordered (note: this text shows a decision
point).
Actions
– Book Shipment
– Select Service
Actor
Shipping Clerk
Shipping Clerk
(Decision)
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Figuring Out a Process 3/4
• The carrier delivers the shipment to the customer receiving it.
At Computers International an accountant creates a new invoice
and the company Accounting System adds a new invoice. The
accountant sends invoice. If the payment is not received by the
due date, the accountant sends a reminder notice to the
customer.
Actions
Actor
– Deliver Shipment
Carrier Company
– Create Invoice
Accountant
– Add New Invoice
Accounting IS
– Send Invoice
Accountant
– Payment Check
Accountant
(Decision)
– Send Notice
Accountant
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Figuring Out a Process 4/4
• A payment received is recorded in the Accounting System.
This event allows the Sales clerk to close the order and it is
marked as fulfilled in the Sales System.
Actions
Actor
– Record payment
Accounting System
– Close Order
Sales Clerk
– Mark Order Fulfilled
Sales System
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Process Diagram
• Process diagram is graphical representation of a
business process.
• Process diagram kinds
Simple
(process composition
without Actors)
•
•
Complete
(process composition
with Actors)
Actor is the process performer, and it can be person,
an IS, an IT, company, department…
An Actor performs within a swim line (a column; next
slide).
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Process Diagram: Customer Order Fulfillment Process (complete)
Customer
Sales Clerk
1 Place
Order
2 Open
Order
4 Fill Order
Sales
System
Accountant
Accounting
System
3 Add
New
Order
Carrier Co.
6 Book
Shipment
Delivery
ordered?
5 Store
details
8 Receive
shipment
Shipping
Clerk
Regular
Rush
9 Create
Invoice
11 Send
Invoice
10 Add
New
Invoice
7 Deliver
regularly
7’ Deliver
overnight
yes
Payment recv’d on
due date?
14 Close
Order
no
12 Send
Reminder
15 Mark
Order
fulfilled
13 Record
Payment
A column (swim line) shows
process performer.
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Process diagramming
1.
In a description of business, focus on verbs that describe how
work is done. Use common sense!
2.
These are your process activities.
3.
Identify who/what performs (actors) activities.
4.
Draw a swim line (column) for each actor (human or not).
5.
Identify other components (decisions that fork flow of control,
loops, parallel steps). Try your best – takes time!
6.
Draw a process diagram component by component.
Use pencil, so you can easily correct errors.
Errors are normal in first drafts!
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Class Exercise
• Goals: Figure processes and draw them
• Use printout/handouts