Articulating the Resources for Business Process Analysis and Design

Abstract

Effective process analysis and modeling are important phases of the business process management lifecycle. When many activities and multiple resources are involved, it is very difficult to build a correct business process specification. This dissertation provides a resource perspective of business processes. It aims at a better process analysis and design by articulating various resources in business process including data, information systems, equipment, human resource, space resource and raw material. I investigate the differences of various resources involved in business processes, how the differences affect business process design, and how to analyze various resources systematically to improve organizational process design. Based on the study of resource in nature and guided by design theory, I propose a resource analysis and design method that considers all types of resources and treats them in a systematic manner by extending Coordination Theory. The proposed RDA approach divides a complex process into simpler tasks; specify the resources consumed and produced by the tasks one by one; and finally, identify resource dependencies with developed computer programs. RDA is first demonstrated and validated with a healthcare clinic process and a loan approval process from existing literatures. Then a transportation company process from a process improvement project in industry is used to evaluate the applicability of RDA in practice. The proposed RDA approach can both facilitate the development of a new business process design and help identify resource dependency problems in existing business processes. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone [phone]. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]