Lecture 6 Flashcards
Business process
A set of activities that are done from start to finish to deliver a result, like a product or service, to a customer or another department. It includes the steps, decisions, and repetitions to achieve the desired outcome.
A set of activities from start to finish including the flow, decisions and loops of these activities that create a concrete deliverable to some output unit.
Flow chart for processes
- decision diamonds = decisions are made
- arrows = flow of actions or decisions
- rectangles = tasks or actions performed within the process
Waterfall (traditional) method of development
A step-by-step approach where each phase (e.g., planning, execution, delivery) must be completed before the next begins. It plans a project from start to finish. Changes are difficult once the process has started.
BPR (business process reengineering)
A method to redesign processes from the ground up to make them more efficient. These are more radical changes in the way processes are executed.
Instead of just changing the structure of the organization (like departments or reporting lines), BPR focuses on improving how work is done (the process).
- improving how work is done (the process)
- improving efficiency
- not changing structure
Prince 2
PRINCE2 (Projects IN Controlled Environments, version 2)
A project management method that focuses on clear step-by-step processes. and strict controls.
Six sigma
continuous minor improvements (define, measure, analyze, improve, control, check)
Agile development
Focuses on delivering work in small, iterative cycles (sprints) and aadapting processes based on feedback.
A way of working where teams work in short time periods (called sprints, usually 2-4 weeks). At the end of each sprint, a part of the product is delivered, and the team can make changes based on feedback.
It is flexible, focuses on customer satisfaction and it welcomes change.
(Rapid) prototyping
Quickly identify needs, build and implement prototype, test it with the users and get feedback, and then improve the prototype and repeat testing if needed (you’re starting over until it is ok).
Scrum
a framework within Agile where teams work in short, structured sprints to deliver incremental results with specific roles:
* Product Owner: Responsible for the product vision and setting priorities for what should be developed.
* Scrum Master: Helps the team work effectively and removes any obstacles.
* Development Team: Does the work that the Product Owner has prioritized.
Modeling techniques
Methods of visually representing processes or ideas so that you can better understand how things work and how to improve them. Its like creating a map of how work gets done in an organization.
Systems design
- Looking at how an organization functions at different levels, and design and implement the information systems/technologies that the organization needs to function optimally.
- In system design, people are thinking about how to use IT in order to optimize the business processes.
- BPR defines what need to change, and system design defines how IT and information will support those changes (systems design is a subprocess within BPR where IT solutions are designed to support and optimize the reengineered process)
Hierarchy of process design
- Higher organization representation = looking at the big picture; how the organization works as a whole
- Process modelling = looking at the organization from a process level (BPR)
- Information flow diagrams = identifying information flows and use of IS
sytem design plays a role at each level
Information flow modelling
A technique used to visualize and analyze the flow of information within an organization.
to determine whether:
- units receive useful information (nothing missing or too much)
- information is correct (accuracy (free of errors), speed & timelines, sufficiency, cost)
Information flow diagram (IFD)
A visual representation that shows how information flows.
contains:
- sources and destinations (from who to who)
- connections (between sources and destinations)
- specification of information (what type of information flows)
