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BPM Software Report: BPM Simplicity with iGrafx
By Lou DiToro BPM suites that are too IT-centric in their business process analysis and modeling tools or that lock you into a specific execution environment can become migraines. They not only reduce the reach of business process management throughout the company, they also create barriers between enterprise communities, introduce communication problems and inhibit return on investment. These problems undermine the potential benefits of a BPM initiative. iGrafx offers an alternative to headache suites worth serious consideration. iGrafx is an integrated set of process-oriented applications that enable organizations to document, analyze, optimize and manage processes. Unlike some monolithic BPM suites, iGrafx's BPM solution features business process analysis and modeling tools without locking you into a specific execution environment. It let's you integrate with a wide variety of standard execution engines while enabling you to take a top-down approach to business process management projects. iGrafx's solution encourages collaboration between communities within the organization. Designed specifically to bridge the gap between three key constituencies, it satisfies the IT user's need for process modeling implementation, the business analyst's need for process modeling optimization, and the process initiative manager's need for enhanced methodology support. The solution fulfills iGrafx's goal of helping organizations model, improve and manage processes and technologies that support and automate operations. iGrafx BackgroundiGrafx is a leading provider of business process analysis software. It focuses on three key areas of the enterprise -- IT, business analysis, and process initiatives -- and its product line reflects this emphasis. Along with its BPM solution it provides add-on modules that can be integrated into initiatives for value stream mapping, Six Sigma, Lean manufacturing, Lean Six Sigma, and Sarbanes-Oxley compliance. For example, its Process for Six Sigma extends its Process Central repository solution to the Six Sigma community. A demo shown on the site for a financial services company that wants to expand the number of newsletters it publishes each month from 50 or so to 70 or so walks the user through an analysis of the current process and its required resources, then does a simulation of the additional newsletters and the impact that would have on staff resources and cost. (The demo integrates Minitab as part of the implementation.) Among the industries iGrafx serves with its software and services are financial, healthcare and telecommunications. iGrafx also provides software and services to local, state and federal governments. Two recent applications on the government side involved the Ohio Department of Transportation and the Washington Department of Labor. iGrafx recently signed an agreement with the US Department of Defense (DoD) to participate in its Enterprise Software Initiative (ESI) -- a joint project designed to implement an enterprise software management process within the government agency. Under the agreement the Department of the Navy recently deployed iGrafx software within the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) AIRSpeed Initiative. An integral part of the Navy's overall rollout, the Initiative is designed to drive processes efficiencies and embed a culture of continuous process improvement throughout its enterprise of over 37,000 military, civilian, and contractor support personnel. Established in 1987, iGrafx is an independent business unit of Corel Corp., a leading developer of graphics, Web, desktop publishing, photo editing, and business software. The iGrafx SolutionIGrafx's BPM solution offers capabilities from process analysis and mapping through execution and monitoring. The solution comprises six software components designed to integrate with each other, to address specific user requirements based on the task at hand. The solution's strengths are ease of deployment, ease of use and robust functionality. Components offered by iGrafx include:
The company also sells specific modules for organizations that have unique processing requirements, such as Process for Six Sigma and iGrafx for IDEF0. The iGrafx solution features a tiered architecture, mapping to Web Services Definition Language (WDSL). It supports BPMN, the OMG standard for modeling notation as well as BPEL, the IBM/Microsoft/et al standard that allows it to interface with a number of process execution engines that adhere to that standard as well. On the pricing front, a large enterprise deployment ranges from $50,000 to $300,000. Users can download a trial version of iGrafx to run a testdrive. (The link to demo versions is below, in "Useful Links.") FlowCharteriGrafx's flagship process mapping tool, Flow Charter, is designed to reduce the time it takes to document processes and business systems. It features numerous diagram types, customizable data fields, hierarchical process and VSM maps, and in-line analysis to help users drill down on processes and evaluate the impact of changes. FlowCharter also features Lean tools, a context-sensitive interface, and a wide variety of output options. It supports Microsoft Visio 2003 and Office, as well as web publishing. The program includes some nifty features, such as automatic "line healing" (for when you remove an object from the map), automatic insertion of objects when you set up a decision diamond, and pull-down options for adding links to other diagrams, files, worksheets or process central repository objects. An explorer bar allows for management of the process -- renaming, viewing all links in process, etc. ProcessThe successor to FlowCharter (although the company still maintains both product lines) offers the same charting abilities: swimlanes, data flow and the rest. The key difference between the two products appears to be the ability to simulate and perform "what-if-analysis" in iGrafx Process. Process CentralProcess Central is a repository. It promotes centralized management and distribution of process objects: process maps, analysis reports, work rules, spreadsheets and documents. It offers process documentation and versioning control for audit purposes. It also provides control at numerous process levels, enables rollback, and facilitates document access and approval. Process Central supports LDAP and Enterprise Directory. Enterprise Central and Enterprise ModeleriGrafx Enterprise Central is a management tool that works with the other iGrafx products to provide a multi-faceted view of the organizational processes. Here's where a company can get the "big picture" and monitor costs, goals, performance, rules and other aspects of process management that cut across business units and functional areas. It works with Enterprise Modeler, which captures the details, including strategies, goals, risks, systems, and resources as well as their relationships.
BPEL InterfaceThe iGrafx BPEL interface enables companies to document, improve and deploy business processes in their choice of execution systems. An extension of the company's process analysis and modeling tools, it's designed to be used by IT departments to orchestrate the process services defined by the process maps. A Note about the WebsiteThis is a company that could use some process improvement in the area of its Website. While the site offers some neat features -- brief product tours that you can open with a click -- some of them are only accessible through registration, such as user documentation and product brochures. One reviewer registered to gain access to the literature, and is still waiting for that approval that's supposed to arrive via email that will grant entrance. Perhaps a member of the sales force has to vet every registration? Whatever is going on behind the scenes, life is too short to demand registration for access to a product brochure. Also, how about a big, clear diagram that shows how these products fit together? There appears to be some crossover (such as with FlowCharter, Process and Enterprise Modeler; or Enterprise Central and Process Central), but figuring out what the mix is isn't easily accomplished. The CompanyiGrafx has representatives in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Japan, Jordan, Korea, Mexico, and Europe, including Germany, where its European headquarters are located. Key industries in addition to those already mentioned are manufacturing and pharmaceutical. Major customers are Fidelity Investments, DaimlerChrysler, Volvo and AT&T as well as Prudential Financial, CitiGroup, NASA, BASF and Johnson & Johnson. Partners include Metastorm, Siebel, Minitab, SAS JMP, Adobe and Plexus. It has 40-plus employees. iGrafx Useful LinksiGrafx Download trial versions of iGrafx software here: View user guides here (registration required to download the guides): View quick tours of the iGrafx products here: About the Author: Lou DiToro is a freelance writer who specializes in writing about business processes and competitive strategy. He welcomes feedback on his articles for BPMEnterprise.com. Contact Lou DiToro at louditoro (at) hotmail.com.Reproduction Without Permission Is Strictly Prohibited – Request Permission Publish an Article: Do you have a process management tip, learning or case study? Share it with the largest community of Business Process Management professionals, and be recognized by your peers. It's a great way to promote your expertise and/or build your resume. Read more about submitting an article.
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