| There are two main areas of activity that are | | | | contribution factor to ineffective databases and |
| referred to as "business modelling". The first is | | | | poor data quality. |
| that set of activities carried out by financial | | | | After you have done the Function and Data |
| experts, economists, etc. that is concerned with | | | | Models, you can produce the following models, as |
| analysing, modelling and predicting the financial | | | | an when they are useful. |
| performance of a business, business sector or an | | | | Business Processes |
| industry. | | | | In formal terms, a Business Process defines the |
| The second is all about modelling what a business | | | | order in which Business Functions need to be |
| does, or OUGHT to be doing, in order ensure that | | | | carried out in response to a specific Trigger, in |
| it is doing the right things in the most effective | | | | order to arrive at a predefined outcome. Less |
| and efficient ways possible. | | | | formally we could say "Whenever the event X |
| The essential areas to model for a business are: | | | | happens we would like to get result Y, what |
| Business Functions | | | | functions do we need to carry out and in what |
| These are the core activities of any business. A | | | | sequence in order to achieve this?" |
| properly built Function Model is a definition of | | | | Process Modelling is, perhaps, the most widely |
| exactly WHAT it is that the business OUGHT to | | | | misused and abused of business modelling |
| be doing, independent of who does it or how it is | | | | techniques. |
| done. | | | | Information Flow |
| The function model should be built before any | | | | This is all about showing how information flows |
| other models as all they are all based on it. | | | | around the business and between the business |
| Data Structure | | | | and the outside world. |
| This defines the elements and structure of the | | | | Procedure Modelling |
| data required to support the Business Functions. | | | | This is a means of modelling HOW things OUGHT |
| This key model is the one most often omitted by | | | | to be done in the business for maximum |
| business analysts because, remarkably, very | | | | effectiveness. There are several other models |
| many business analysts cannot do data modelling. | | | | that can be built as an when required but the |
| This disconnection of data from function during | | | | models above will cover 100% of your needs |
| the business analysis stage of projects is a major | | | | 80% of the time. |