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Set Cost Parameters on Resource

Example Business Process Simulation diagram in Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect

Create the BPMN Model (Resources)

  1. In the Browser window create a StartEvent1, a GlobalTask1, two abstractTasks called Task (by Junior) and Task (by Senior), and an EndEvent1.
  2. Ctrl+drag the elements from the Browser window onto a diagram, pasting GlobalTask1 as an Invocation (Call Activity) named call global (by Junior).
  3. Connect the elements with Sequence Flows.
  4. Create two BPMN2.0 Resource elements: Junior Developer and Senior Developer.

BPSim Configuration

Create a Business Process Simulation configuration Artifact in the diagram, right-click on it and select the 'Configure BPSim' option, then set the configuration to link to the Package containing the BPMN model elements and configure these BPSim parameters as indicated.

Parameter

Setting

Scenario Parameters

  1. Click on the BPSim Configuration Artifact and, for the Scenario Parameter 'Time Unit', click on the 'Value' drop-down arrow and select 'hours'.
  2. In the 'Value' field for the 'Duration' parameter, set the value to '0001 00:00:00' (1 day).

This Time Unit is used to calculate the Time Cost (Time cost = Unit Cost * Time), so make sure the Unit Cost is based on the correct Time Unit.

Control Parameters

  1. On the diagram, click on StartEvent1.
  2. Click on the New Parameter drop-down arrow and select 'Control'.
  3. In the 'Parameter' field click on the drop-down arrow and select 'TriggerCount'.
  4. In the 'Value' field type '1'.

Time Parameters

  1. On the diagram click on Task(by Junior).
  2. Click on the New Parameter drop-down arrow and select 'Time'.
  3. Click on the 'Parameter' drop-down arrow and select 'ProcessingTime'.
  4. In the 'Value' field set the value to '000:000:000 004:00:00' (4 hours).
  5. Click on Task (by Senior) on the diagram and repeat steps 2, 3 and 4, setting the 'Value' field to '000:000:000 003:00:00' (3 hours).
  6. Click on GlobalTask1 on the diagram and repeat steps 2, 3 and 4, setting the 'Value' field to '000:000:000 002:00:00' (2 hours).

Resource Parameters

  1. On the diagram, click on the Junior Developer Resource.
  2. Click on the New Parameter drop-down arrow and select 'Resource'.
  3. Click on the 'Parameter' drop-down arrow and select 'Selection'.
  4. In the 'Values' field, click on the Browse. button to open the 'Edit Resource Selection' dialog.
  5. Click on 'Junior Developer', and on the Add Selection By Resource(s) button to move the selection to the 'Resource or Role' panel.
  6. The 'Quantity Required' column defaults to '1'; overtype this value with '10'.
  7. Click on the AND radio button to set the logical relationship; the final expression for Resource selection is composed and shown in the text field.
  8. Click on the OK button to return to the Configure BPSim window, where the expression is shown in the 'Values' field.
  9. Click on the Senior Developer Resource and repeat steps 2 through to 8, typing '5' in the 'Quantity Required' field.

Cost Parameters

  1. On the diagram click on Junior Developer.
  2. Click on the New Parameter drop-down arrow and select 'Resource'.
  3. Click on the 'Parameter' drop-down arrow and select, in turn:
         -  'FixedCost', then in the 'Value' field click on the Browse. button, select
            the 'Constant' tab and 'Floating', then in the 'Constant Floating'
            field type '100' and in the 'CurrencyUnit' field type 'AUD'; click on
            the OK button
         -  'UnitCost' - do the same, setting the 'Constant Floating' field to '20'.
  4. On the diagram click on Senior Developer and repeat steps 2 and 3, setting:
         -  'FixedCost' to '100'
         -  'UnitCost' to '30'.

Simulation

  1. On the 'Configure BPSim' dialog, click on the 'Execute' tab.
  2. Click on the button'.
  3. When the simulation is complete, click on the 'Review' tab, and on the 'Standard Results Report' tab.
  4. Filter the report by clicking on the button and selecting the 'Show only Non-Empty Items' option.

Analysis

Resource

Results

Junior Developer

  • Total Completion Cost is '200', calculated as FixedCost (100) * number of Activities involved (2)
  • Total Time Cost is '120', calculated as ProcessingTime (4 + 2 = 6 hours) * UnitCost (20/hour)

Senior Developer

  • Total Completion Cost is '100', calculated as FixedCost (100) * number of Activities involved (1)
  • Total Time Cost is '90', calculated as ProcessingTime (3 hours) * UnitCost (30/hour)
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