JDC

Sure, but we are consultants yet.

* If you intend to compute the organizational performance a priori (via benchmarking the working capacity of the organizational units in a company), Intalio may not be the tool you’re looking for.

How are going to evaluate “working capacity” WITHOUT executable processes?

* If you want to compute process time or process cost, this cannot be done directly. You should wait until having an executable process, and then this may be feasible. However, there are other tools that may fit much better this requirement.

May be we have to execute differently an executable business process model from Intalio? The model is still OK.

* If you need just to replace a composite application, and you focus on low-level notions (synchronous and asynchronous communications), be warned that Intalio and BPM do not include those kinds of primitives directly, and that your modeling can be uncomfortable.
There are plenty of BPEL-level modeling tools that might fulfill your requirements directly.

“houses for courses” is applicable for Intalio by definition, but how it is linked to BPM?

* If you already have a model process written in some other language like EPC, UML, OSSAD, b-Flow… do not expect to find plug-ins that will help you import/translate.

This is reasonable because a model in UML has to be re-thought BEFORE being in BPMN, by definition.

* If your requirements do include the creation of a process framework (or a process library/reference), know that Intalio does not provide any process repository functionality. You should build one of your own.

Can a poor-man solution (i.e. SVN) help to avoid such a build?

* If there is not need for an executable BP as a result of the modeling effort, you’re not going to use the maximum capacity of Intalio…

Yes, but “be ready” to be executable is a great advantage vs a Visio-like diagrams.

* If you have no need of rigorous semantics that help you build valid and correct Biz Process models, just use any drawing tool with the notation you prefer.

The main reason to draw a business process is to achieve good understanding between stakeholders of this process. If you draw it without “rigorous semantics” then you may expect the similar return.

Thanks,
AS

Thanks for the feedback!

The need to use BPM software properly requires that your as-is processes are documented properly. Only then can you design and implement to-be processes that reflect a fully optimized process.

I work company that was searching for a BPM suite to implement and we ran into the exact issue of being able to map our as-is processes effectively. We, unlike many airlines, realized that this stage in process planning was absolutely imperative. We enlisted the services of a BPM software and consulting company called Interfacing Technologies Corporation . They came into our company, mapped our current processes and helped us optimize them. We were so impressed with their services that we ended up implementing their Enterprise Process Center , their BPM suite.

That said, many people find that using consulting services for small projects is a waste of money. Instead, before implementing BPM projects and mapping your processes, I suggest taking an OCEB (OMG Certificed Expert in BPM) Training course, or a BPM training course . The courses are relatively cheap, and give you a comprehensive knowledge on how to map your business processes properly so that your company does not spend their money optimizing a bad process.

Once you’ve done this, I suggest using one of the 100% Free BPMN Modeling programs – a few of them are ad-ons to Microsoft Visio. They allow you to get started with your process mapping right away.