Patent Application
20100250300
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to computer implemented methods of assessing a business enterprise for the purpose of transforming the business operations. More specifically, the invention relates to assessing using the techniques of component business modeling and service oriented architecture as implemented on computer tools.
2. Description of the Related Art
Component Business Modeling (CBM) techniques are described by Rackham is US 2005/0203784, filed Mar. 9, 2004, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. Additional CBM techniques are described in US 2005/0246215, filed Jul. 8, 2005, US 2007/0027701, filed Jul. 15, 2005, US 2007/0021993, filed Jul. 23, 2005, US 2007/0038627, filed Aug. 12, 2005, US 2007/0050232, filed Aug. 26, 2005, US 2007/0162482, filed Jan. 10, 2006, US 2007/0174109, filed Mar. 8, 2007, and US 2008/0221940 filed Mar. 8, 2007.
Service Oriented Modeling and Architecture (SOMA) techniques are described by Ang et al in US 2008/0027784, filed Jul. 31, 2006, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. Additional SOMA techniques are also described in US 2008/0126147, filed Jul. 31, 2006, and US 2008/0270201, filed Apr. 30, 2007.
It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide a method of using both SOMA and CBM techniques for assessing a business enterprise in a way which benefits from the combination. The present invention provides linkages between CBM assessment results and SOMA inputs to provide an overall improved enterprise assessment.
These and other objects are attained in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention wherein there is provided a computer implemented process for assessing an enterprise, comprising the steps of; creating a component business modeling heat map for the enterprise using a computer implemented CBM analysis tool, forming a domain decomposition from the heat map by using CBM competencies as domains, CBM components as functional areas, and CBM component activity as functions, forming a goal-service modeling structure from business component objectives and business component KPI's in the heat map, performing an existing asset analysis from a current system overlay and system assessment of the heat maps by generating a business function system matrix therefrom, and delivering the heat map, the domain decomposition, the goal-service modeling, and the existing asset analysis to the enterprise.
a and 2b illustrate linkages between CBM assessment and SOMA assessment;
As used herein, a service oriented architecture (SOA) shall be taken to mean an architectural framework that takes everyday business applications and breaks these down into individual business functions. The individual business functions are known herein as services.
SOMA techniques for assessment of an enterprise are described in US 2008/0027784, US 2008/0126147, and US 2008/0270201. A SOMA domain decomposition is formed in the present invention from a CBM heat map for the enterprise. The purpose of this domain decomposition is to partition and decompose the scope of the project from the perspective of functional areas, processes, information, rules, and policies, as well as, the variations and commonality encountered within a domain.
In
Linkage 20 shows that a SOMA goal-service modeling structure 34 is formed from business component objectives 14 and business component by key performance indicators (KPIs) 14. Linkage 22 shows a SOMA existing asset analysis 36 is performed from a CBM current system overlay analysis 16. The heat map 10, domain decomposition 32, goal-service modeling structure 34, and existing asset analysis 36 may all then be delivered to a client company or enterprise, for example, as an assessment performed under a consulting agreement.
A SOMA domain decomposition assessment includes process modeling and decomposition, functional area analysis, information analysis, rules and policy analysis, and variation oriented analysis. For the present invention, a functional area analysis uses a CBM heat map in the following way. With reference to
Goal-Service modeling identifies business-aligned services and ensures that important services are not overlooked during domain decomposition or existing asset analysis assessments. In the present invention, business component specific objectives (goals) and KPI's from a CBM heat map activity matrix 61 are used to form a goal-service modeling structure 62 as shown in
A SOMA business function system matrix 73 is generated from the current system overlay 71 and system assessment 72 of a CBM heat map, as shown in
In a business consulting agreement with a client company for an assessment of their business enterprise, a consulting company, after creating the heat map, forming a domain decomposition, forming a goal-service modeling structure, and performing an existing asset analysis, delivers these to the client company. Delivery may be in the form of hard copy documents printed using a computer implemented tool, such as the tool of related application Ser. No. ______, filed ______, entitled, “A SYSTEM FOR IMPLEMENTING BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION IN AN ENTERPRISE”. The consulting company may also deliver a working copy of the tool to the client company with the heat map, domain decomposition, goal-service modeling structure, and existing asset analysis stored therein.
An SOA solution plan may be created from the delivered materials using known SOA techniques. This plan may then also be delivered to the client company. Furthermore, the consulting company may then implement this SOA solution plan for the client company.
While there have been shown and described what are at present considered the preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
This application is related to applications Ser. No. ______, filed ______, entitled, A SYSTEM FOR IMPLEMENTING BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION IN AN ENTERPRISE, and Ser. No. ______, filed ______, entitled, BUSSINESS ASSESSMENT METHOD, both of which shall be incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
