## Unit Objectives

- Understand the process spectrum
- Define Business Process Management (BPM)
- Define process modeling
- Understand the high-level project phases of a BPM project
- Describe the IBM Playback methodology
- Describe Playback 0 and its achievements

## Introduction to Business Process Management (BPM)

Business Process Management (BPM) is an integrated approach to aligning key activities of an organization into processes that can be consistently measured and optimized for value. This involves combining technology with methodology to compress cycle times and enhance visibility into process performance.

## Key Concepts

Concept | Description
--- | ---
BPM Lifecycle | Continuous process improvement through discovery, analysis, simulation, and adjustment.
Process Modeling | Capturing the ordered sequence of business tasks or activities in a defined, predictable manner.
Process Model | A graphical representation of a business process that is universally understood and easily communicated.

## BPM Project Phases

1. Definition: Discover and define the process. Analyze for improvements and set performance metrics.
2. Development: Iterative process with multiple playbacks to refine the application.
3. Testing: Validate the application in a production environment.

## The Playback Methodology

Playback is a focused demonstration of a partially implemented process application, delivered to business and IT communities for discussion, consensus-building, and approval.

Playback Stage | Focus
--- | ---
Playback 0 | Review business requirements, define components, and assess fit to purpose.
Playback 1 | Finalize process definition, address technical risks, and prepare performance architecture.
Playback 2 | Prepare non-functional requirements, address any remaining issues, and ensure a sustainable solution.
Playback 3 | Focus on performance testing, infrastructure challenges, and deployment strategy.

## Process Modeling in BPM

Phase | Focus
--- | ---
Descriptive Modeling | Documenting the current state and capturing process details.
Analytical Modeling | Refining the model through analysis, simulation, and identifying opportunities for improvement.
Executable Modeling | Preparing the model for deployment, ensuring it meets the set business objectives.

## BPM Project Teams

Key roles in BPM projects include the Process Sponsor, Process Owner, BPM Project Manager, and Core Team Members such as analysts, developers, and solution architects.

## Review Questions

- True or False: The goal of BPM is to optimize the efficiency of structured processes, while Case Management focuses on flexibility.
- What is a Playback?
  - A. A focused demonstration of a partially implemented process application.
  - B. A demonstration of Business Automation Workflow components.
  - C. An in-depth technical overview.
  - D. Provided only at the end of the project lifecycle.
- What is delivered at the end of Playback 0?
  - A. The "As-Is" process.
  - B. The "To-Be" process.
  - C. The analytical model.
  - D. The descriptive model.

## Answers

- True
- A: A focused demonstration of a partially implemented process application.
- B: The "To-Be" process model is finalized.