Actually, I think the EP notation has wider applicability and is underused.
I tend to use them when we need to get a rapid overview of the business processes we are trying to automate, specifically when there is no need to formally MODEL the stepwise flows and decisions within the process but when a fundamental agreement on what the process is "all about" is needed.
Business people can easily come to grips with the signpost being the gestalt process, stop fretting about the details and can cope with the structure provided - outcomes and goals, resources etc - to quickly develop a model of what a new automated process must achieve.
We are currently involved in implementation of a package solution to a "provide a consumer driven internet booking system" project.
The existing process, involving agencies and call centres has two processes for the sale of bookings. Neither of these processes are suitable for the solution - the agency process involves raising comissionable entries in two existing systems ( the CRS and the finances systems) and the call centre process involves a different (manual) ticket delivery mechanism. The new process has no commission and delivers tickets by email.
(Obviously, the ful processes involve much more than the above but it suffices for the following.)
By modelling the two existing processes as EP gestalts, just focussing on the actors, goals and outcomes, we were able to come up with a comprehensive list of what the new process must achieve across the entire system, including the new internet booking engine. Discussions, about these revealed the things that needed to be considered during the implementation, such as how to recognize the IBE generated transactions at the finance system end, what yield analysis would need to do about a new sales channel, etc, etc.
The original plan involved detailed analysis of the exisitng processes, as the existing documentation was believed to be no longer accurate - an activity estimated at 3-4 months effort. We achieved comprehensive agreement with the business people in 2 weeks at a total cost of 16 days effort.
I can only encourage the use of E-P modelling this way, give it a go - but use it at first only at the gestalt level. Use whatever modelling you are comfortable with "inside" the process., but get an overall viewpoint first - using the EP profile.
Bruce
