Chapter 6 Simulating a Business Process Model

Defining Simulation

The BPM can be used to describe the behavior and requirements of a system. It is an activity model that gives a static view of the various interactions that occur in a system.

Most of today's systems are dynamic in nature. Because an activity model is static, dynamic issues cannot be satisfactorily represented. These issues include the flow of data or other entities through an organization, contention for shared resources such as personnel or hardware, and conditional behavior of the system. Activity models are incapable of assessing flow rates, bottlenecks, idle time, throughput, cycle times, workload, and other dynamic properties. Since these dynamic properties often are of greatest interest to management, simulation becomes a key analytical tool.

Simulation allows you to use a model to conduct experiments. The model, which changes over time, conveys an understanding of the system being represented. The purpose of experimenting using simulation is to solve problems by discovering something unknown or testing theoretical solutions to problems. The results of the experiment are then used to make prudent decisions.

Simulation is a way to move to the most effective process without making costly mistakes. For example, to minimize the risk to equipment and minimize training cost, the airline industry routinely uses simulation to train pilots.

The primary purpose of simulation is to describe and analyze the behavior of a system, ask "what if" questions about a system, and help in the design of real systems.

Simulation uses

Simulation is widely used in manufacturing, in repetitive processes and even in training for practicing decision making skills.

Why simulate a BPM?

The reasons to simulate processes are various and numerous. One reason can summarize them all: "To control project risks".

Simulate process is very useful to:

Evaluate and improve the represented system performance before its implementation
Save money, time, and resource
Avoid mistakes
Optimize solutions
Show a system behavior over compressed, real or even delayed time
Provide information on multiple performance measures
Provide results that are easy to understand and communicate
Appeal and engage people 's interest
Gives planners unlimited freedom to try out different ideas for improvement, risk free

When to simulate a BPM?

You simulate a BPM when:

The process being analyzed is well defined and repetitive
An operational (logical or quantitative) decision is being taken
Activities and events show some interdependency and variability
The cost to experiment on the actual system is greater than the cost to perform a simulation