In just six months from May to October 2002, Software Futures managed to establish an internal competency tasked with growing an enterprise business process architecture model function within SARS.
Based on de facto industry standard, the Unified Modelling Language (UML), the primary objective of this initiative was to depict the complex reality of SARS business processes in a simple, easy-to-use, easy-to-communicate business process model, housed within a convenient and controlled model environment.
Software Futures' solution provided significant value to SARS and included:
* Development of a Framework at SARS for Business Process Architectural Modelling (BPAM) to enable simple and effective recording, visualisation, communication and structuring of its business processes.
* Deployment of an appropriate platform/repository at SARS that leveraged their existing industry-leading IBM Rational toolset, enabling SARS to control the growth and re-use of the models as its business changes. This platform consists of:
* IBM Rational Rose - the industry-leading modelling tool which closely supports the Unified Modelling Language. A full-fledged modelling tool was chosen which has an object repository, as opposed to a simple diagramming alternative.
* Control over versioning of the model is provided with IBM Rational ClearCase - the industry-leading configuration management solution which provides tight control and ensures that the whole team is able work on the model at the same time without compromising the integrity of the model in any way.
* Traceability and impact analysis provided with the use of IBM Rational Requisite Pro which traces processes to objects both within and outside of the model. This enables links to external sources such as business rules, and ensures that proper impact analysis is always conducted wherever business processes or rules change.
* Facilitation and elicitation of SARS first-cut model from line-management process champions.
* Knowledge transfer and development of skills for SARS's new BPAM team comprising process and tool training, consulting and a mentoring programme. The team selected at SARS had business expertise but no prior formal experience in business process modelling.
* Assistance with proficiency testing and interviews to select an appropriate set of candidates to be deployed within SARS.
Recognising the value of this key function, SARS has recently appointed a brand new strategic line function, reporting directly to the commissioner on matters of SARS's business processes. Brenda Hore heads this department, bringing noteworthy successes from a similar initiative at Nedbank.
Software Futures was thanked in letters of recommendation from SARS for its dynamism and professionalism - and for going the extra mile.
"Software Futures demonstrated the ability to analyse the business within the newly-defined context. Their holistic and open approach to ensure that processes within SARS would be aligned and integrated, coupled with an understanding of the environment of SARS and the potential of the value they could add to the organisation, showed them to be dynamic, professional and willing to walk the extra mile.
"It is a privilege to work with them - they have a lot to offer and I hope we'll have the opportunity to work with them in the future."
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