AllFusion/BPWin Functionality Report
Capstone 7
September 24, 2004
James J. Perry
Daniel Streufert
Table of Contents
1.0. IDEF0 Functionality 3
2.0. IDEF3 Functionality 4
2.2. Junctions in IDEF3 Modeling 4
2.3. Building IDEF3 Models 5
3.0. DATA FLOW DIAGRAMS 5
4.0. Visualization Tools 5
5.0 Work Cited 6
1.0. IDEF0 Functionality
IDEF0 is a function modeling method for analyzing and communicating the functional perspective of a system, which is used in the Computer Associated AllFusion program. CA describes the IDEF process and one that “allows you to systematically analyze your business, focusing on normal day-to-day functions and the controls that support these functions.
1.1 CA listed Benefits
CA lists many distinctive benefits they believe set the BPWin software apart from other competitors that offer IDEF0 process modeling software:
1. An easy to use point and click, drag and drop interface
2. Allows users to automate the design of IDEF0 models
3. Provides integration with its Process Flow and Dataflow modeling portions of the AllFusion suite
1.2 Capabilities of IDEF0 in BPWin
The basics of IDEF0 is that is only contains box and arrows, a box represents one activity, while an arrow will have a different meaning based on where it is connected to the model.
An activity is something that can be described with a single action verb plus a common noun, for example: “Approves Budget.”
There are 4 types of arrows used in BPWin:
1. Input
2. Control
3. Output
4. Mechanism
An Input arrow is anything that is consumed or transformed by the given activity, for example some inputs to “Approve Budget” could be the draft budget documents.
A Control arrow is anything that is a constraint on the activity, for example, the amount of money available to allocate, or the laws and regulation that define how government money may be spent.
An Output arrow is anything that results from the activity, for example, an approved or rejected budget.
A Mechanism arrow is how the activity is completed, but not in itself consumed by the process, for example, the person who has final say in the approval, or the public input process, or project cost support documents.
The inputs, output and mechanisms should be easy to derive from interviews with the people involved in each activity, while the controls on the processes may be a little harder to define.
1.3 The basic process of creating an IDEF0 model it to
1. Identify the purpose
2. Define the viewpoint
3. To find the appropriate depth and scope of the project
According to CA, Once these three are defined the model should be easy to build.
1.4 There is multiple other IDEF0 modeling products that can also be evaluated for use, AI0 WIN by KBSI is one of the software packages I have found that seem to mirror AllFusion’s capabilities.
2.0. IDEF3 Functionality
IDEF3, also referred to as Process Flow modeling or Workflow modeling, is used to graphically represent and document all aspects of a business process. IDEF3 captures information of process flow, inter-process relationships, and other vital objects that interact in the business flow process. Using IDEF3 is particularly useful to in assist in the reengineering of business processes, development of a methodology to complete deliverables, and collection of information on policies and procedures in the business.
IDEF3 allows the user to create real world scenarios. This application is particularly functional for any type of business in the respect that the user can shape their models to directly fit their company’s needs. For example, the user can map out all parts of the process to develop a plan to implement an alternative traffic patter in a given urban area. These mapped scenarios not only organize processes in a reader-friendly fashion for department staff, they also open communication pathways between departments within the company.
2.1. Activities in IDEF3 Modeling
IDEF3, like IDEF0, allows the user to create an activity called a Unit of Work, or UOW. However, IDEF3 broadens the use of the word activity to include a process, action, decision, or other procedure performed in a system or business within an IDEF3 model.
2.2. Junctions in IDEF3 Modeling
As in real life, more than one process can merge into one process (fan-in junction) and conversely, more than one process resulting from a single process (fan-out junction). Junctions in process flow diagrams allow the user to create such events. Different types of injunctions include Asynchronous AND, Synchronous AND, Asynchronous OR, and XOR (Exclusive OR). In fan-in, Asynchronous AND means that all preceding processes must be complete, and in fan-out, it means that all following processes must start. In fan-in, Synchronous AND means that all preceding processes complete simultaneously, and in fan-out, it means that all following processes start simultaneously. In fan-in, Asynchronous OR means that one or more preceding processes must be completed, and in fan-out, it means that one or more of the following processes must start. In fan-in, Synchronous OR means that one or more of the preceding processes complete simultaneously, and in fan-out, it means that one or more following processes start simultaneously. In fan-in, XOR, or Exclusive OR, means that exactly one preceding process completes, and in fan-out, it means that exactly one of the following processes starts.
2.3. Building IDEF3 Models
The process to build an IDEF3 model entails the fundamental steps taken to build an IDEF0 model. The most distinctive difference in the IDEF3 models is the use of the junctions. Junctions add depth to the diagram and allow for more complex process structures.
Another tool includes the use referents, or objects in an IDEF3 diagram where additional information is stored outside the process flow. For example, if a new road was to be built, but the air quality had to be checked first, the information from the air quality check would be stored in a component of this model.
3.0. DATA FLOW DIAGRAMS
Data Flow Diagrams, or DFD, are used to complement IDEF0 models. The DFD lays out a blueprint of your company’s development tasks, thus documenting the movement and processing of information within your company. The DFD describes data process functions, the data involved, and the entities that interact with sales and data processing tables. DFD objects include activities, arrows, data stores, and external references.
4.0. Visualization Tools
BPwin supports imported graphics of the bitmap type. If the graphic is not in bitmap form, the image can be converted from most common extensions into the correct bitmap format. Importing bitmaps allows the user to apply them to diagram objects along with various display options.
BPwin also allows the user to export models to Arena, a simulation software tool from Systems Modeling Corp. This is a particularly useful tool in respect that it is an easy and efficient way to visualize what is actually happening in a complex model. You can literally see a picture of a document, for example, tracing a user-defined path. An additional advantage is that the user can run simulation on the model and obtain useful statistical information about the given process. Overall, these visualization tools are extremely useful in understanding the woodwork behind complex model architectures.
5.0 Work Cited
Computer Associates. AllFusion Process Modeling. California: Computer Associates International, Inc., 2002.