Messages

1

General Board / Re: Documenting the Big Picture

« on: December 11, 2009, 10:36:06 am »

All:

Thanks for the additional suggestions!  Got some more research to do.

Tony Markos

2

General Board / Re: Documenting the Big Picture

« on: December 10, 2009, 09:11:35 am »

Segun:

Thanks for your suggestion.  The Zachman Framework recommends process modeling technques for the high-level modeling of systems from a buisness perspective. (By "system" I mean a either a manual, automated, or combination manual/automated system.)  But that recommendation is incorrect as process modeling techniques are sequential in nature, whereas systems at the high level have no defined sequence.  One can not model a non-sequential system using a sequence-dependent technique.

Geert:

Thanks for the response.   However, I don't see what difference whether the system consists of people, computers, or both makes?     If capturing the big picture depends on making distinctions of such, how is one to capture an integrated big-picture for an enterprise-wide system who's processes are implemented by a combination of both software and people?  

In additon to evaluating the BPMN in terms of the question that I have,  I have researched the functional/process modeling technqiues associated the UML and, per your suggestion, the SYSML.  The only possible technique for handling processes that can occur in any order are Use Cases.  

However, Use Cases are not a "big-picture", enterprise-wide modeling technique.   They for example are not used to capture totally manual processes.

(BTY:  My question is neither for an exam or for a homework assignment.   I am "in the field")

Guys, if any other recommendation comes to mind, please let me know!

Thanks,

Tony Markos

3

General Board / Documenting the Big Picture

« on: December 09, 2009, 05:58:52 am »

The big picture of a system is characterized as having processes that can occur in any order and/or processes that can occur at any time.  In short, there is no definedable sequence for processes at this level.   What technique is used to capture the big picture?  (Note: BPMN is a sequence oriented technique.)

Thanks,

Tony Markos