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Guide to
Business Process Modelling
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Contents
What is business process modelling?
What is process mapping?
Why and when is process mapping used?
How to produce a process map
Draw and label the swimlanes
Add in the process flows
Swap lanes and show decision points
Complete the process map
Example process map
Further assistance

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What is business process modelling?
Business process modelling is a means of
representing the steps, participants and decision logic
in business processes.
There are three main types of process models:
1. Descriptive models: written explanations of the
processes
2. Active models: a working model that represents
the processes (eg. computer simulations)
3. Diagrammatical models: a diagram that shows
the processes and the relationships between
them (eg. process maps and flowcharts.)
This guide will focus on process maps.
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What is process mapping?
Process mapping is a technique of
diagrammatical modelling.
The diagram represents a series of
processes and how they are related.
Process mapping provides a representation
of who does what and in what order.
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Why and when is process mapping
used?
It is used for:
understanding the current processes
clarifying responsibilities
identifying process inefficiencies
designing new procedures
training
Process mapping helps to clarify the steps
involved in a particular process.
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How to produce a process map
Consult with the experts. These are the people managing and working with
the process.
Identify the boundaries. Where does the process begin? where does it end?
Identify the participants. What roles are involved in the processes?
Hand draw the process in front of the expert, getting then to confirm the
steps.
Identify the steps. What is done first? What is done next? By who?
Identify the decision points. What are the alternatives? What determines
which alternative is chosen?
Draw an initial process flow. Draw and label the swim lanes (see next slide
for details) using standard symbols.
Check for completeness. Are all participants represented?
Are all processes shown? Are there any alternatives that
have not been considered? Refine and finalise.
Review with the experts to ensure completeness.
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Draw and label the swim lanes
Employee
Supervisor
Administration
The swim lanes represent the area of involvement of each
participant who has a role in the processes being mapped.
The participant may be an individual, a team, a department
or an organisation.
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Add in the process flows
Employee
Supervisor
Administration
Starting at top left with the start symbol.
Draw processes along the swim lane, and use arrows to
represent the sequence.
Each process is given a number, and starts with a verb.
1.1 Fill out
expense form
1.2 Submit
expense form
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Swap lanes and enter decision points
Employee
Supervisor
Administration
When a process is performed by a different participant
switch lanes. If the next step depends on a decision show
this as in the example above, labelling the alternatives and
showing the steps that follow.
1.1 Fill out
expense form
1.2 Submit
expense form
1.3 Receive
expense form
1.5 Submit
authorised
expense form
1.4
Expenses
Valid?
1.4.1 notification
to employee
Yes
No
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Complete the process map
Remove any unused swim lanes.
Make sure there is one start point and all flows have
an end point.
Check that all decision points have all options
labelled and have flow arrows to the next step.
Review with participants for verification.
An example of a completed process map is shown
on the next slide.
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Employee
Supervisor
Administration
1.1 Fill out
expense
form
1.2 Submit
expense
form
1.3 Receive
expense
form
1.4
Expenses
Valid?
No
Yes
1.5 Submit
authorised
expense
form
1.6 Receive
expense form
1.7 Log
expense form
1.8 Make
payment
1.4.1 notification
to employee
1.8.1 notification
to employee
m
m
m
m
m
m
sol
M = manual
sol
Sol = facilitated by solution
Business process 1 Process expense claim