IBM BPM - Database

                      
                                  IBM BPM product is having default database and storing each bit of information of process designing in it. These information has used for analysis and reporting feature. Some out of box features like HAS (Historical Analysis Scenario) and SAS (Simulation Analysis Scenario) are using default data for analysis. Default database comes along with process center and process server. Database could be configured with DB2, Oracle and Sql server.

Each deployment environment has three databases(BPMDB, CMNDB and PDWDB).

• BPMDB (Business Process Management Database) - Also known as process server database, contains database objects for processes server and embedded ECM (IBM BPM Document store).

• CMNDB (Common Database) Also known as shared database, It contains database details for Messaging engine, Business space components and Failed Event Manager.

• PDWDB (Performance Data Warehouse Database ) - Store data for performance and analytics. (e.g. tracking, business data)

IBM BPM - Architecture

                         IBM BPM is having multiple components and composing how components will interact with each other. Components are having unique feature and practical demarcation.  Process Server, Process Center & Process Designer are coarse grained components.

• Process Server
• Process Center
• Process Designer
• Process Portal
• Process Admin Console
• Process Center Console

 Process Server - 

                          Process server is employing WebSphere Application Server (WAS) and implemented at the top of it. Process server is to run the defined business processes. When it comes to put developed application for Test, UAT or Production, they will be installed on process server.

Process Center -

                             Process Center is also known as central repository. Any changes in artifacts will be available to all user. Processes center is actually constitute from three components. It has the Process Center repository which is responsible for managing the solution's artifacts and it has an instance of a Process Server to execute play backs and a Performance Data Warehouse to save every single entity.
 

IBM BPM - Terminology

A

    AIS - Advance Integration Service

B

     BPM -   Business Process Management
     BPMN - Business Process Model & Notation
     BO -     Business Object
     BPD -   Business Process Definition

C

    CV - Coach View

E

    ENV - Environment Variable
    EPV - Exposed Process Variable

H

    HAS - Historical Analysis Scenario

I

    IS - Integration Service

K

    KPI - Key Performance Indicator

M

    MIL - Multi Instance Loop

O

    Out of Box Feature - IBM BPM's default features

P

     PS - Process Server
     PD - Process Designer
     PC - Process Center

S

     SLA - Service Level Agreement
     SAS - Simulation Analysis Scenario
  

   

T

    TG - Tracking Group
     TWX - Team Works eXport

U

   UAD - User Attribute Definition
    UCA - Under Cover Agent

 

IBM BPM - History & Versions

IBM BPM

                    IBM BPM is a framework that leverages application development and services to provide total visibility of a process/organization structure. IBM BPM provides platform to discover new process, automation, documentation and continuous process changes to improve business efficiency and cost reduction.

IBM BPM - History

                     In 2010, IBM had taken over TeamWorks product from Lombardi. TeamWorks was re-named as WebSphere Lombardi Edition (WLE) and first release taken place in June 2010 with the 7.1 release. That is the reason at some places name begins with “tw” (Team Works).

IBM BPM - Version

                         After taken over from Lombardi, First version WebSphere Lombardi Edition 7.1 (WLE) was release in June 2010. Next version comes in industry very soon after few months release of WLE 7.1, WLE 7.2 hit market in December 2010.

In June 2011, WebSphere Process Server (WPS) and  WebSphere Lombardi Edition (WLE) had been merged in a single product and released with new name IBM BPM (7.5). WPS & WLE features are available in single IBM BPM product. 

Now in every year, IBM BPM comes with new features. Latest version is IBM BPM (8.5.6), it has been released in March 2015.

BPM - Business Process Management

Business process management is a framework to organize business processes in systematic order to get an optimal result. Its help to create solutions, those are more efficient, more optimize and more capable of adapting the business changes. It allows the organization to manage their wide range of critical business processes and makes an impact in company’s growth and revenue.
In BPM, each and every process has importance and every optimize process can make a positive impact in organization’s growth. So, Process should be understood in depth, managed effectively and contribute to client/customer’s growth.

• To optimize process and get faster turnaround time
• Transform the business to get maximum output
• Helps in growth of revenue

Definitions by Experts – 

The Workflow Management Coalition, BPM.com and several other sources have come to an agreement on the following definition:

"Business Process Management (BPM) is a discipline involving any combination of modeling, automation, execution, control, measurement and optimization of business activity flows, in support of enterprise goals, spanning systems, employees, customers and partners within and beyond the enterprise boundaries."

Gartner defines Business process management (BPM) as:

“The discipline of managing processes (rather than tasks) as the means for improving business performance outcomes and operational agility. Processes span organizational boundaries, linking together people, information flows, systems and other assets to create and deliver value to customers and constituents."

Nathaniel Palmer defines Business process management as:

“Business Process Management (BPM) is a discipline involving any combination of modeling, automation, execution, control, measurement and optimization of business activity flows, in support of enterprise goals, spanning systems, employees, customers and partners within and beyond the enterprise boundaries.”

BPMInstitute.org defines Business Process Management as:

"The definition, improvement and management of a firm's end-to-end enterprise business processes in order to achieve three outcomes crucial to a performance-based, customer-driven firm, 1) clarity on strategic direction, 2) alignment of the firm's resources, and 3) increased discipline in daily operations."

BPM Life Cycle: Business process Management life cycle consists 5 phases.

1.   Process Discovery

2.   Process Designing/Modelling

3.   Process Execution

4.   Process Monitor

5.   Process Re-Engineering

Process Discovery: Any designing or modeling has been started with the discovery of "AS IS" process, how existing business process is. Area of focus should be while discovering “AS IS”.

Process Flow

• Actors/Users
• Business Operations 
• Alerts 
• Escalation Path 
• Service Level Agreement

Process Designing/Modeling: A good understanding of “AS IS” process can help to reduce the number of flaws in “To Be” Process. Otherwise, there will be chances to carry same existing flaws in new processes. Main improvement areas could be in process flows and business operations takes the theoretical design and introduces combinations of variables. It because of competitive challenges faced by business in the market. Modeling expected situations. determines after the change in variables, how the process will operate in expected situation.

• Capture the business processes
• Gather in-depth detail to understand conceptually how the process works.
• Historically carried out by business analysts, but simple-to-use technologies such as Sequence are allowing the business manager to undertake this task, as this is typically where the in-depth knowledge required to model the process lies.

Process Execution: An application will be required to execute business process end to end. The system will use both services in connected applications to perform business operations (e.g. calculating a repayment plan for a loan) and human inputs, when a step requires input from the human for further calculation.Extend the model to capture more detail required to execute the process, e.g. 

• Form controls and layout 
• Alert message content
• Business Rules integration
• SLA implementation

Process Monitor: The Monitor Phase is where process performance has been measured. Monitoring covers the tracking of individual processes so that information on their state can be easily seen, and statistics on the performance of one or more processes can be provided. This information can be used to work with customers and suppliers to improve their connected processes. The extensiveness of monitoring depends on what information the business wants to evaluate and analyze and how the business wants it to be monitored, in real-time, near real-time or ad-hoc. 

Process Optimization/Re-Engineering: Process optimization includes retrieving process performance information from modeling or monitoring phase; identifying the potential or actual bottlenecks and the potential opportunities for cost savings or other improvements; and then, applying those enhancements in the design of the process. 

If process became beyond optimization, too complex and incorrigible. It will be suggestable to redefine the complete process