Method and apparatus for business process transformation wizard

Abstract

A computer implemented method and a computer system implementing the method of a business process transformation wizard leads a business analyst through a series of steps to invoke business transformation patterns, in order to analyze the results of those processes. The wizard first prompts the business analyst to specify business objectives of process transformation. Required parameters are added to the business process model guided by the business process transformation wizard until the business process model is completed. Once the model is completed, the wizard prompts the business analyst to select transformation techniques or patterns for optimizing process parameters and, for each selected transformation pattern, optimizes process parameters using a selected optimization technique. The wizard also prompts the business analyst to select transformation patterns for optimizing topology of the business process and, for each selected transformation pattern, optimizes topology for the business process using a selected optimization technique.

1 . A computer implemented method for a business process transformation wizard to assess business processes and identify transformation options, comprising the steps of: 
 prompting by the business process transformation wizard a business analyst to specify business objectives of process transformation;    adding required parameters to a business process model by the business process transformation wizard until the business process model is completed;    prompting the business analyst to select transformation patterns for optimizing process parameters and, for each selected transformation pattern, optimizing by the business process transformation wizard process parameters using a selected optimization technique; and    prompting the business analyst to select transformation patterns for optimizing topology of the business process and, for each selected transformation pattern, optimizing by the business process transformation wizard topology for the business process using a selected transformation technique.    
     
     
         2 . The computer implemented method for a business process transformation wizard as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the step of prompting by the business process transformation wizard the business analyst to specify business objectives of process transformation includes displaying a menu of key performance indicators (KPIs) which can be selected by the business analyst, selected KPIs affecting selection by the business process transformation wizard of a minimal set of input parameters required to build the business process model that is amenable for analysis to predict the process KPIs.  
     
     
         3 . The computer implemented method for a business process transformation wizard as recited in  claim 2 , wherein selecting a transformation pattern is determined based on information contained in a knowledge database on different business process patterns and effectiveness of different transformation patterns for different business process patterns.  
     
     
         4 . The computer implemented method for a business process transformation wizard as recited in  claim 2 , wherein inputs for the method are obtained from design-time business process modeling systems.  
     
     
         5 . The computer implemented method for a business process transformation wizard as recited in  claim 2 , wherein inputs for the method are obtained from run-time business process monitoring systems.  
     
     
         6 . The computer implemented method for a business process transformation wizard as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the outputs for the method are deployed in run-time as a business process in a business process management system.  
     
     
         7 . The computer implemented method for a business process transformation wizard as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising the steps of: 
 prompting by the business process transformation wizard the business analyst to provide business model validation criteria; and    executing a process analysis by the business process transformation wizard to check whether results of the analysis validate the model according to criteria specified by the business analyst.    
     
     
         8 . The computer implemented method for a business process transformation wizard as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the steps of prompting the business analyst to select transformation techniques for optimizing process parameters and prompting the business analyst to select transformation techniques for optimizing topology of the business process include displaying a menu of transformation techniques or transformation patterns which may be selected by the business analyst.  
     
     
         9 . The computer implemented method for a business process transformation wizard as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the menu for the step of prompting the business analyst to select transformation techniques for optimizing process parameters includes at least one of “Optimizing Resource Capabilities”, “Optimizing Resource Scheduling Policies”, “Combining Roles”, “Change Branching Probability”, and “Introducing IT System”.  
     
     
         10 . The computer implemented method for a business process transformation wizard as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the menu for the step of prompting the business analyst to select transformation techniques for optimizing topology of the business process includes at least one of “Parallelize Business Process sub system”, “Permute Order of Tasks”, and “Remove Activity”.  
     
     
         11 . A computer system implementing a business process transformation wizard comprising: 
 at least one processing unit communicating with a memory device storing an interactive program for leading a business analyst through analytic methods for analyzing a business process;    a display device controlled by said processing unit and supporting a graphic user interface; and    at least one user input device providing input to said processing unit and permitting interaction with said graphic user interface, said interactive program    prompting by the business process transformation wizard a business analyst to select a business process to be optimized;    prompting by the business process transformation wizard the business analyst to specify business objectives of process transformation;    adding required parameters to a business process model by the business process transformation wizard until the business process model is completed;    prompting the business analyst to select transformation techniques for optimizing process parameters and, for each selected transformation technique, optimizing by the business process transformation wizard process parameters using a selected transformation technique; and    prompting the business analyst to select transformation techniques for optimizing topology of the business process and, for each selected transformation technique, optimizing by the business process transformation wizard topology for the business process using a selected transformation technique.    
     
     
         12 . A computer readable media containing code for implementing a method for a business process transformation wizard, said method comprising the steps of: 
 prompting by the business process transformation wizard a business analyst to select a business process to be optimized;    prompting by the business process transformation wizard the business analyst to specify business objectives of process transformation;    adding required parameters to a business process model by the business process transformation wizard until the business process model is completed;    prompting the business analyst to select transformation techniques for optimizing process parameters and, for each selected transformation technique, optimizing by the business process transformation wizard process parameters using a selected transformation technique; and    prompting the business analyst to select transformation techniques for optimizing topology of the business process and, for each selected transformation technique, optimizing by the business process transformation wizard topology for the business process using a selected transformation technique.