IBM holosofx Business Process Management

Holosofx-derived from the Latin "holo" (overall) and the Greek "sophic" (SMART)-founded in 1990, the goal is to help companies understand and govern their business processes in an integral way. In September 2002, IBM acquired holosofx to expand its Websphere Business integration platform. Holosofx improves the customer's ability to design, monitor, and improve business processes.
　　
Especially, holosofx is mainly used in the continuous business process management (cbpm) field. This is a successful and industry-leading concept used by companies to govern their business processes. This article briefly analyzes the architecture and environment of IBM holosofx and explains how developers can use holosofx to simplify business process improvement and governance.
　　
　　 Use holosofx for successful communication
The necessity for different applications to interact and exchange data through business process integration is the key to successful B2B merger. In the process of overall process integration, enterprises must use a complete business solution to easily and seamlessly discover, integrate, and manage business-related data. To achieve this, the business department must work closely with IT experts to obtain the best solution-meeting business requirements and enhancing the performance of the process.
　　
However, IT and business experts are always a challenge to accomplish this task. The developer will bake and remove the sac and drop it. The filter block is yellow, and the appearance is yellow, the yellow, the dust, the R drop, the yellow stop? It uses the UML (Unified Modeling Language) model. The integration and transformation between the UML and BPM models can ensure good communication, avoid the cost caused by communication errors, and reduce the project completion time.
　　
A tool to reduce language differences is required to ensure successful communication. IBM holosofx for business process management facilitates communication between business and IT experts by providing a public workspace. The workspace in holosofx workbench and UML transformer modeler enables enterprises to convert necessary business content into it content, and also provides the conversion from IT Content to business content.
　　
　　
Figure 1. A public Workspace
　　
　
Holosofx Overview
The IBM holosofx Business Process Management (BPM) package consists of three components that run as separate modules:
　　
IBM holosofx workbench
Used for modeling and analysis. Holosofx workbench uses Business Modeler as the core and UML Transformer (modeler), XForm designer, and XML mapper as the extension.
IBM holosofx Monitor
Used for real-time monitoring.
IBM holosofx workbench Server
Used to share process information through Intra/Internet.
The holosofx Software Package uses multiple functions to implement cbpm:
　　
Create
Holosofx workbench models existing processes. Use the model to create, simulate, analyze, and select a new process design for optimization.
Collaboration
The holosofx workbench server is used to share process model information through the Web, and provides secure storage for access and version control.
Automation
Holosofx workbench converts a business flow model to an MQSeries workflow format that can be exported directly.
Governance
BPM monitor is used to monitor ongoing projects and take corrective actions. In addition, in the actual process, metrics answers questions in the model scenario and improves the process.
Holosofx integration policy:
　　
Allows software developers and business experts to define business requirements and describe system objectives through modeling.
Enables developers to use UML to model business software systems.
Developers can map the information contained in the UML model back to the BPM process model.
This allows developers and business experts to transform common elements between the UML model and the BPM business process model.
This comprehensive integration policy is good for both business and IT. For example, ing a UML model to Business Process Model Elements Improves the maintainability, traceability, and scalability of the UML Model and BPM process model. As long as the UML Model of the target system reflects changes or other requirements, you can easily change the target business software system to adapt to these changes.
　　
On the other hand, the ability to map business process elements to UML Model Elements saves time and costs and minimizes errors. ING also enables business experts to enter the analysis and design of the software system and verify the business needs of the system.
　　
Holosofx workbench and UML Transformer
Among the three components, holosofx workbench is the key to supporting cbpm. Workbench is a Windows-based desktop application that complies with activity demo-flow dimo-, lines of visibility, partner interface process, UML, Workflow Process Definition Language (wpdl) and XML modeling, runtime, exchange, and other standards. Workbench interacts with Rational Rose, XMI, MQSeries workflow/build time/FDL, UML transformer, holosofx workbench server, and holosofx monitor. It exports the Flow Definition Language (FDL) file to the runtime environment of IBM WebSphere MQ workflow through an offline import/export interaction process (The Modeler is exported in the next version to support IBM crossworlds ).
　　
　　
Figure 2. holosofx workbench
　　
　
The key to holosofx workbench is its UML transformer. UML transformer provides a solid foundation for developers to support the development process. It captures the design lifecycle from concept to completion. For example, you can use class digraphs to map it design elements to elements of the Business Process Model to help developers develop it elements while Modeling Processes. The IT/Business Process Model ing function makes process models and UML models traceable. The model displays the outlines and functional requirements of the main process until the elements actually constitute the software product under the structure.
　　
UML transformer allows developers to perform the following operations:
　　
Produce a clear development plan.
Link the UML model with the BPM process model.
Six different views (visual-digraphs) are used in UML to create business software system models: Class, use case, sequence, collaboration, State, and activity.
Convert common elements between a UML model and a BPM business flow model.
View System Objects, messages in objects, and logical processes of the system using sequence and collaboration digoal.
An important feature that developers can use in business modeling and analysis is the ability of Business Modeler to import/export FDL and XML modes. The built-in UML transformer allows software developers to specify their own business applications in the UML Model and link these applications to the process model, XForm designer can "dynamically" design the required forms and user interface screens.
　　
Finally, the development team can use this model to verify whether the Code meets the requirements and whether it can track the requirements from this code.
　　
　　 Link to the IT and business world
Both the business flow model and the UML transformer activity and Use Case charts simulate the business environment, but they use two different concepts, and they focus on different content and related elements. UML models focus on software systems, components, and components, while BPM process models focus on business goals and how to achieve these goals. However, the UML Model and Business Process Model do have the same elements. Holosofx workbench (using UML transformer) has the ability to process these common elements and convert them between two applications.
　　
　
With holosofx workbench and UML transformer, you can convert data between the following elements:
　　
BPM data structure and UML class (Classe ).
BPM Process Model (ADF divisor), UML use case, and activity divisor.
BPM tasks and UML use cases and participants.
　　
Figure 4. screen snapshot of converted data
　　
　
BPM business process models usually include a large number of manual and automatic processes. Manual and automatic systems and processes indicate the functions required by the software system (ing to UML use case) to support business processes. For example, in a UML method, a functional software element is linked to a use case, And the use case is linked to a specific task of one or more business flow models. With the development and maturity of software, the business evaluation of each software element and function can be separated from the Business Process Model or traced back to the business process model.
　　
In holosofx workbench, a task describes the process model and defines how to complete the work, who does the work, what resources and/or applications are required to complete the work, and the qualifications required to complete the work. If the task details define all or part of the functionality of a software application, the attributes of the entire task will become clearer when describing the application.
　　
　　 Model conversion example
Model the use case section of the process
In our sample cases, the business activity is "Packaging customer orders ". A business user may use it in a larger process, such as "completing a sales order ". Although they have the necessary knowledge to create use cases, they generally do not have the knowledge of UML models. Therefore, the common starting point for business users is to establish the "complete sales order" Model in workbench. After creation, they can check the use case with the developer and verify their needs. Show the use case section of the Process Model in holosofx workbench:
　　
　　
Figure 5. Use Case Process Model
　　
　
Export the process model to XML
The developer then uses the functions in Workbench to convert the process model to a UML Activity chart. But in fact, this conversion is done by exporting the process model as an XML file that represents the preceding process model. The XML file exported from the holosofx workbench process model is displayed:
　　
　　
Figure 6. Process Model XML file
　　
　
Import XML files to UML Transformer
After creating an XML file and exporting it from workbench, the developer can import the file to UML transformer, where it becomes a UML chart.