From Business Process Models to Distributed Software Architecture

While examining complex business processes we have discovered that most of them are software-driven, i.e. most business processes depend on software systems. One approach to specifying these software systems is the development of business process models and the derivation of requirements for the software systems supporting them. In other words: business process models represent some sort of requirements for software systems needed to support the processes [ 11. A closer look at the world of business process engineering [2] shows that more and more business processes are distributed [3,4]. Insurance companies for example have their main headquarters, many offices and vast numbers of agents. They all need access to central software systems, and they have their own software, too. Despite this distribution, couplings between dispersed systems are in their infancy [5]. Interfaces based on EDI or even based on a distributed software are frequently missing [6]. Instead of that, insurance agents have to fill out application forms either manually or within their local software system. They have to send the forms by letter post to the office where the data will be copied again manually into the central software. Here there are special software routines for verifying the application data and for the decision whether an application will be accepted or not. hXmkSiOn to make digital or hard copies of all ar pafi of this wo,.k for personal or classroom use is granted without fee provided that copies arc not made or distributed for prolit or commercial advantage and that copies bear this notice and the full citation on the first page. To copy otherwise. to republish, to post on servers or to redistribute to lists, requires prior specific permisslon and/or a fee