DecisionsFirst Modeler Tip #4 - Process Modeling

Many organizations are already working with business process models. Adding decision modeling offers real benefits in terms of simpler, smarter and more agile business processes. If you already have process models, here are some tips to help you get started.

Process Modeling Part One

  • Create a process in DecisionsFirst Modeler for each process you have defined. You can use the URL property to link the definition in DecisionsFirst Modeler to the source process in your BPM modeling tool.
  • Save a process map picture and load it up as part of the process definition in DecisionsFirst Modeler. This will give you a visual context as you work.
  • Look at the process and seek out places where you have worklists, escalations and critical gateways. These are almost certainly points in the process where a decision is required – the user of the worklist has to make a decision, the escalation is required because the person executing the process cannot make a decision and a gateway acts on a decision. For each of these decisions create a Decision object in DecisionsFirst Modeler and then associate it with the process.

Process Modeling, Part Two

  • The best way to do this is to create a diagram and then drag the Decision shape onto the diagram to create each one. Give it a suitable name and description. You can then go back to the process object in DecisionsFirst Modeler, search for the decisions that matter to the process in the search box on that page and drag the decisions into the list to associate them. Now you can see how the processes and decisions are linked.
  • Each decision can then be modeled, building its information and authority requirements, breaking it down into sub-decisions etc. Decision modeling is ideal for defining decision-making and keeping the decision model separate from your process models allows for an effective separation of concerns.
  • You can also link your existing process models to DecisionsFirst Modeler. There are two ways to do this:
    • Permalink - In every DecisionsFirst Modeler tab there is a Permalink button. Right click on this and you can copy a URL to the clipboard.
    • Reader URL  - If you are using DecisionsFirst Modeler Reader you can get a URL for a read-only, mobile-friendly page by searching for the object and copying the URL of the page. 
    • Paste either URL into another document or tool, like your process documentation or modeling tool, and you will be able to link directly to a specific object in DecisionsFirst Modeler with a single click – just like you can use the URLs in DecisionsFirst Modeler to link to outside information and tools.
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