Business Process Modelling Levels: A Key to Effective Process Architecture Design

When it comes to designing a process architecture, many organizations struggle with creating a clear and coherent workflow that delivers value to customers. The key to success lies in rethinking the organization as a series of deliverables, rather than focusing solely on individual processes or tasks.

At its core, every organization's workflow is comprised of linked business processes that work together to build internal deliverables within a specific system. These deliverables are then delivered to external customers outside of that system. This fundamental concept is often overlooked in favor of more detailed or high-level approaches, leading to incomplete and ineffective process architecture designs.

Managers who value process often struggle to create a workflow architecture that makes sense for their department due to the complexity involved. On one hand, they may become bogged down in too much detail, losing sight of the bigger picture. On the other hand, they may leave large gaps in their workflow design, failing to address critical components or relationships.

One of the most significant challenges organizations face is a lack of understanding about process architecture itself. Prospective clients often struggle to articulate what they need from their process architecture design, making it difficult for consultants and designers to deliver effective solutions.

To overcome these challenges, organizations must adopt a holistic approach to business process modelling that considers multiple levels of abstraction. By doing so, managers can create a clear and coherent workflow architecture that delivers value to customers while meeting the needs of internal stakeholders.

The following are key levels of business process modelling:

1. Strategic Level: This level focuses on high-level goals and objectives, providing a broad overview of the organization's overall strategy.

2. Tactical Level: At this level, specific processes and activities are identified, outlining how they contribute to the overall strategic goals.

3. Operational Level: The operational level involves designing detailed workflows and tasks that bring the tactical plan to life.

By considering these levels in conjunction with each other, organizations can create a comprehensive process architecture design that is both effective and efficient. By rethinking their organization as a series of deliverables, managers can develop a clear understanding of how their business processes work together to drive value for customers.

Business process modelling levels