Business process modeling with Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) v2.0 diagrams

The key to an effective and smoothly run business is the efficiency and cohesive integration of its business processes. A business process describes the steps taken to complete any objective, task or service within a business. Processes can be divided into three distinct categories:

• Management processes — processes that describe business strategy and organizational structure.
• Operational processes — interaction between business and customer, core business activity.
• Supporting processes — e.g. health and safety, accounting, recruitment.

Business processes are born from business process management (BPM) strategy, which is the overall strategy for all company operations. BPM is responsible for a business process from its design, through to modeling, to execution. It also covers optimization or re-engineering of current processes.

The most effective method of creating or analyzing a business process is to visually interpret the steps using a business process diagram, flowchart or workflow. This is known as business process modeling, and will be performed within a company by a team who have detailed knowledge of company process, and analysts with expertise in the modeling discipline. The objective is often to increase production or lower costs — by modeling the process initially using a flowchart, inefficiencies and problems can be spotted before committing to a decision or strategy.

Example 1. Business process diagram

Given the fluid, global nature of business at present, it is perhaps a necessity to have a standardized notation system with which to describe the steps that make up different business processes. Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) v2.0 is a method for visualizing information in a way that's intuitive for business analysts, and also allows existing processes within a business to be compared and integrated effectively.

The aim of BPMN is assist in creating a diagram that is immediately understandable to all business stakeholders, with graphic elements that can be adapted to represent any form of function, decision, work or data flow. The symbols and structure it uses to do this can be divided into a number of categories:

• Flow objects — includes Events, which are parts of a process that happen automatically, denoted by a circle; Activities show work that needs to be done, shown as a round-cornered rectangle; Gateways show a splitting or merging of paths, using a diamond shape.
  
  

  Example 2. Flow objects

• Connecting objects — used to connect flow objects, either as Sequence Flow, which indicated the order of activities; Message Flow, a dashed line that shows interaction between organizational boundaries, shown on diagrams as 'Pools'; Association is a dotted line used to connect an 'Artifact' or text to an activity.
• Swim lanes — the widest possible overview of a process involving different organizations is known as a Pool. Different organizations each have their own Lane within the Pool, and are connected using Message Flow connecting objects.
  
  

  Example 3. Swim lanes diagram

• Artifacts — Artifacts are pieces of information added to certain Activity flow objects to giver better understanding to those viewing the process diagram. They can be data required or produces, extra activities, or simply explanatory text.
• Choreographies - These symbols allow the opportunity to show an activity or step that describes the behavior between business participants.
  
  

  Example 4. Choreographies object

• Expanded objects — these symbols can be used to expand one area of a process, and see an activity or function at a higher level of detail.
  
  

  Example 5. Expanded object

ConceptDraw have designed a solution that combines BPMN v2.0 methodology and graphical notification into one powerful package. The Business Process Diagrams solution from ConceptDraw Solution Park provides a comprehensive collection of vector stencil libraries that contain pre-designed, standardized BPMN v2.0 symbols, as well as a number of templates that help you map out business processes and strategy in a variety of styles.

ConceptDraw PRO is the ideal software solution when working with process diagrams or flowcharts. Thanks to the intuitive and powerful RapidDraw interface, activity and workflow shapes and symbols can be generated on the page with a single click of a button, allowing you to map your process as quick as it comes to mind. If you get stuck at any stage, help is at hand from our tutorial videos, that can be found in our help section.

To create professional looking, informative workflow diagrams, and obtain a full library of BPMN v2.0 graphics, download and use the Business Process Diagrams solution from ConceptDraw.

Flowcharts

A flowchart can take any process and distil it into a series of actions or decisions; it is a versatile and simple form of diagram that can be used to describe situations in any field, and is easily understood by everyone. They are used frequently in business to document workflows from all areas of a company - they can show accounting purchase orders, human resource recruitment strategy, or a product life cycle.

Fig 1. Flowchart — Product life cycle process

What makes a flowchart so widely used and readily understood is the use of standardized symbols that retain the same meaning whatever process they are describing. They always start and end with a Terminal, an oval shape containing the appropriate text. A diamond shows that a Decision is necessary, often yes/no or true/false, while an Action is shown as a rectangle, containing text describing what happens. Other flowcharting symbols add contextual layers to specific process flow diagrams, with icons that represent punch card inputs, disk storage, and manual operations.

As more of business has become reliant on computer systems, there has been a need to use flowcharting to map data flow diagrams. Symbols known as data-flow extensions exist for this exact function, that allow Documents, Manual operations, Manual inputs, and Data files to be added to a data flow chart.

Fig 2. Flowcharts design elements

With these building blocks, it is possible to create flowcharts that describe work process flows from all divisions of a company. Different types of process flow diagrams exist to reflect the different ways in which data and resources interact within each area of a business. Here are some examples of the types of flow diagrams in common use:

• Data-flow diagrams — these diagrams can show the interaction between a system and external agents, or show the flow of data within that system. They are used to visualize how a system will operate, how it can be implemented, and what effect data input will have on the system as a whole.
  
  

  Fig 3. DFD Process of account receivable

• Functional flow diagrams — these are used to map a multi-tiered, time sequenced process. They show a workflow as a series of levels, with each step of the top level process expanded into it's own list of functions that represent the 2nd tier of the process. This can be repeated for as many tiers as is necessary.
  
• Algorithm charts — the binary nature of decision making on a process flowchart means they are an ideal medium for mapping computer algorithms. The flowchart symbols are used to graphically represent a step-by-step set of operations to be performed, and the rules by which they are defined.
  
• Activity diagrams — this type of diagram is used extensively as an example of Unified Modeling Language, used by software engineers as a standard way of visualizing the design of a system. Activity diagrams differ from normal flowcharts primarily by being able to show the start and end of concurrent activities, using a specific Join or Split symbol.
  
• Cross-functional flowcharts — this type of flowchart is constructed as a matrix, arranged into 'swimlanes' that denote different stakeholders or departments. It shows each individuals activities, and how the work flow crosses departments to form a complete process.
  
  

  Fig 4. Swimlane Process Mapping Diagram — Payroll Process

Flowchart solutions from ConceptDraw

For years ConceptDraw has been delivering high quality business process flow design solutions, turning ConceptDraw PRO into one of the most comprehensive and powerful examples of flowcharting software available. Solutions have been tailor made to apply to numerous departments and stakeholders within a company, while ConceptDraw specialize in professionally drawn vector stencil graphics of both standardized flowchart notation, as well as a large selection of themed icons and design elements.

Here are some of the flowcharting solutions for ConceptDraw PRO, and examples of process flow charts that have been created using them:

• HR Flowcharts — libraries of icons relating to human resources allow HR staff to illustrate workflows in that field, such as the recruitment process, staff training, or health and safety initiatives.
  
  

  Fig 5. Human Resource Development — Onboarding Model

• Accounting Flowcharts — the set of symbols found in this solution give accountants the tools they need to describe purchase orders, payments, or procurement processes.
  
• Sales Flowcharts — Sales workflows can cover interaction between customer and business, or an internal sales process needed to be performed by workers.
  
  

  Fig 6. Sales Flowchart — Global Payment Solutions

• Audit Flowcharts — this solution contains extra symbols to help illustrate the steps needed to prepare and implement the audit process.
  
• Cross-Functional Flowcharts — As mentioned previously, this type of flowchart drawing is divided into 'swimlanes'. It needs special notation to signify the relationship between these divisions, which can be found in this solution.
  
• Business Process Diagram — this solution contains design elements for Business Process Model Notation (BPMN) v2, which is an extension of the standard flowchart notation, and allows users to present complex process semantics and more precise information for any given step.
  
  

  Fig 7. BPMN 2.0 — diagram logistics

• IDEF0 Diagrams — IDEF0 is the modeling language used to create flowcharts specifically for the analysis of computer system software, or software engineering. This solution from ConceptDraw contains the necessary connecting arrows and callouts.
  
• Flowcharts — the base flowchart solution for ConceptDraw PRO has a large library of all common flowcharting symbols.

These are just some of the vast array of online business process diagramming solutions that can be found in ConceptDraw Solution Park, on the ConceptDraw website. By using flowcharts, you can map unique company processes at all levels and across all departments, transmit information to important stakeholders, or use your flowchart as part of a presentation - so it is important to have a piece of software powerful and dynamic enough to cater for all flowcharting needs. Combining these solutions with ConceptDraw PRO gives users all the tools they need to create effective and professional flowchart designs.

Microsoft Azure Architecture Diagrams

Since becoming widely available to the masses, the Internet has inspired, driven, or been responsible for a huge variety of new computing technologies and applications over the past few decades. Some are fads that come and go, and start-up company boom and bust stories are common in Silicon Valley. There is at least one certainty however — the Internet and its usage is expanding, and with this expansion comes ever increasing amounts of data that needs to be stored securely, methodically analyzed, and remotely accessed. The solution created has come to be known as cloud computing.

Cloud computing is a method of storing data and web-based infrastructure on remote servers, generally as a paid subscription service. It is a convenient way for businesses to store and manage all company data within one instantly accessible medium, as opposed to purchasing, running, and maintaining private servers on-site. As data demands have grown, a diverse selection of cloud platforms have been created, often dedicated to a specific demand. Microsoft Azure is one of the oldest, and most widely used cloud platforms, and does not focus on any one single aspect, instead offering a full range of cloud services under one platform.

The integrated services offered by Microsoft Azure are wide-ranging, and include the infrastructure needed for computing, storage, analytics, databases, networking, and application development and deployment. If a business hosts its web apps on Azure servers, it can be accessed at any time, anywhere in the world, by customers and stakeholders alike. The aim is to lesser the distance between the IT department and the rest of the business, provide a global platform for integration and data sharing, and reduce IT overheads. Here's a detailed look at how Microsoft Azure accomplishes this, and the products it offers.

Cloud computing

Infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) and platform-as-a-service (PaaS) are both offered by Azure. Iaas allows you to create and run unmanaged Windows or Linux based virtual machines on the cloud, while PaaS covers managed services such as website and application hosting.

Virtual machines (VM) can be deployed almost instantaneously, and Microsoft's hybrid consistency means you can apply the same management tools to them through Azure that you would use on-premises. There are further advantages to running a VM on the Azure platform:

• Create any number of VM instances
• Built-in virtual networking, load balancing
• Microsoft SQL Server and SharePoint Server
• Oracle, MySQL, Redis, MongoDB
• Billing is calculated per minute

Example 1. Windows Azure Network and Computes Architecture

Using the Azure platform gives you access to high performance computing (HPC) and Azure Batch, a service that regulates, schedules and optimizes computer resources. Large parallel and batch compute jobs can be run entirely on the cloud, or a company can extend its HPC cluster on to the platform if more capacity is needed.

Cloud storage, backup, and recovery

Data storage is a fundamental aspect of the cloud platform, and Azure is comprehensive in this regard, providing scalable, durable cloud storage, backup, and recovery solutions. By working with your pre-existing infrastructure, Azure supports your business continuity strategy, and allows you to store app data such as unstructured text, or binary data like images, video or audio.

Cloud data services

Azure offer two main services for analyzing and understanding your data — managed SQL and NoSQL data services, and HDInsight, that allows you to create and analyze Hadoop clusters.

SQL Database — a relational database-as-a-service.

• Scalable to large multiples of databases
• Constant availability due to replicas and service agreement
• Data protection via auditing, restore & geo-replication
• Programmatic DBA-like functionality for efficient DevOps
• Requires little maintenance due to being self-managed

Hadoop is powerful software that can store and analyze incredibly large amounts of seemingly unorganized, unconsolidated data from a variety of sources. Azure's HDInsight service utilizes this software on the cloud, helping to reduce up-front costs and lower the burden on resources.

Example 2. Windows Azure Reference Architecture

Cloud networking

Virtual networking through Azure allows you to create your own private network of virtual machines, or as a hybrid infrastructure that connects with databases stored within the on-site premises of a business.

• Allows you to migrate your own IP addresses and DNS servers
• Secure connectivity using IP Sec VPN or Express Route
• Control over traffic between subnets
• Provides an isolated and secure environment for applications

Cloud applications

Microsoft Azure features a full-functioned and dynamic App Service, that assists the user in creating and deploying web, mobile, media, or line-of-business solutions. Apps can be made for iOS, Windows and Android systems, while the built-in AutoScale feature allows you to scale them up or down according to business demand.

The Azure App Service allows developers to build standards-based web and mobile apps and APIs using .NET, NodeJS, PHP, Python and Java, and make them available to both employees and customers from a single back-end. In conjunction with the app service, there also exists Azure Media Service, which acts as a platform to control the distribution of video media.

Some further advantages to the Azure App Service:

• High availability with auto-patching
• Auto-scaling can support millions of devices
• Social integration is available through Facebook, Twitter etc.
• Create cross-platform or native apps
• Create custom back-end logic

Cloud identity and access management

Windows Azure Active Directory is responsible for the enterprise level identity and access management of your cloud based apps. With it, you can manage user accounts, synchronize data with on-site directories, and determine levels of access to data or front-end apps. An extra layer of security can be added called Multi-Factor Authentication, protecting your own data and apps, as well as Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) apps such as Office 365, Salesforce, and DropBox.

• Single sign-on to any cloud and on-premises web app
• Enforce Multi-Factor Authentication with SaaS
• Works with multiple platforms and devices
• Integrate with on-premises Active Directory

Example 3. Azure Architecture

Cloud system architecture diagrams

With the Microsoft Azure cloud platform providing such an array of services, and providing the possibility to create virtual networks or web applications of any size and complexity, it is perhaps a necessity to create a visual map of the network topology found in your cloud. Cloud computing system architecture diagrams can be used to analyze current cloud infrastructures, or form the basis of a proposal for a new custom system architecture.

By showing a complicated Azure cloud-based solution through a diagram, the viewer can easily identify employee or end-user, can associate them with inputs and outputs, and determine access level for all parties. It can also depict database interactions and communication between the cloud and on-site servers and directories. Any changes necessary can be made first to the diagram, analyzed, then applied to the actual cloud architecture.

To match the powerful capabilities of Windows Azure, ConceptDraw has released the Azure Architecture solution for ConceptDraw PRO. It comes complete with a wide array of Azure themed icons and symbols, contained in large vector stencil libraries, as well as a selection of templates designed to assist you when starting out to map your Azure cloud architecture. Designs of any complexity are possible, thanks to the intuitive controls of ConceptDraw PRO and wide selection of tools available from the solution. And if you are still having difficulties, ConceptDraw have a dedicated help section complete with tutorial videos to assist.

Not only useful for system developers, the Azure Architecture solution is a must for anyone who needs to design Azure cloud topology, and present the results as an infographic, whitepaper, as training material, or as part of a presentation.

HR Flowcharting

Human resources is the term given to the people who make up the employee workforce of an organization or company. It was initially used simply as a synonym for manpower or labour; latterly, with the advent of globalization, a cottage industry has grown regarding human resource strategy, as a way of enhancing business value through management of the workforce.

The idea of human resource management (HRM, or HR) has its roots in the human relations movement of the early 20th century. Initially, the theory was applied more towards transactional processes, such as the administration of payments, holidays and benefits. Soon the focus would turn directly to the labor force, and the idea of workplace productivity began to take importance. A gradual change in HR policy meant that workers began to be view less as cogs in a machine, subject to unrealistic production demands, and more like an asset to the company, who can be trained and rewarded in order to provide even greater productivity in their work.

In modern times, the importance of HRM has been fully accepted and integrated into working life, to the point where the HR department of a business will often be one of the largest divisions in the company. At a macro-level, HR is responsible for leadership strategies and workplace culture, adhering to labor laws, health and safety, and security. On a more individual basis, they will deal with worker grievances, performance reports, and all steps of the hiring process.

This emphasis on employee satisfaction and training is not just an altruistic notion; it has become something of a necessity due to the changing manner in which we do business. Companies have realised that constantly replacing a workforce is costly, inefficient and time-consuming - it's much more preferable to retain employee talent and knowledge, with a lower employee turnover. Business has changed in a global sense too - companies regularly trade internationally, with a wide range of partners, across different customs, cultures, and laws. As such, the modern HR department will find itself involved in the strategy behind mergers and acquisitions, diversity and inclusion, and industrial and labor relations.

It can be said that human resource management has four basic functions - staffing, training and development, motivation, and maintenance. The points below show some of the processes involved with each function.

Staffing

• Recruitment
• Interviewing
• HR networking
• Job descriptions
• Turnover reduction
• Requisition management
• Employment branding
• Candidate screening and assessment
• Recruitment scheduling
• Employment events management

Example 1. Human Resource Management

Training and Development

• Employee training
• Talent development
• Learning event management
• Performance management
• Succession planning
• Employee financial education
• Career planning

Motivation

• Payroll
• Benefits determination
• Health planning
• Retirement planning
• Employee compensation planning
• Total rewards management
• Wellness planning and maintenance

Maintenance

• Employee tax payment
• Time sheets
• Safety records
• Leave forms
• Insurance payment
• Absence management
• Claims and appeals management
• Personal financial planning
• Employees' dependents verification
• HR reporting
• Flexible spending account administration
• Employee records management
• Employee life events management

Example 2. Human Resource Development

With such a large and varied workload, it can be useful for an HR manager to design and create business process maps, that illustrate a specific process within the company. These can take the form of flowcharts, infographics or workflow diagrams. Specific diagrams work better with certain processes - for instance a flowchart acts a solution to a given problem; each step of the solution is represented by a box, from which multiple connections can flow dependent on the decision made at that step. An infographic is used as a graphical representation of data or knowledge, and act upon the human visual capability of spotting patterns and trends. All aspects of HR management can be mapped with their use, from macro to micro level - the versatility of flowcharts mean that one can be used to chart data flow through the payroll software system, or a more esoteric diagram can show HR management response and strategy in a given situation.

The advantages of business process mapping are numerous. They can be used as a plan, to try and stop initial mistakes with implementation; you see processes as part of a bigger picture, and can adapt them for certain scenarios; it can help you eliminate unnecessary steps, or speed up/automate parts of the process. Presenting data in visual form creates a unified message or strategy, and allows for easy distribution amongst team members.

Example 3. Human Resources Flowchart

With the new HR Flowcharts solution for ConceptDraw PRO, all these diagramming options and advantages are available to you. A comprehensive selection of predesigned vector stencils libraries allow you to create eye-catching infographics relating to any human resource management process. Also included are standardized flowchart notation symbols, meaning your diagrams will be relevant and understood by all business associates. We try to make things easy for you at ConceptDraw, so you will also find flowchart and workflow templates inside the solution to help you get started with your own design. Using the HR Flowcharts solution, you can create professional looking HRM business process diagrams in a matter of moments.