Theoretically, Business Process (BP) modelling creates a graphical representation of your company’s business processes or workflows, as a means of identifying potential improvements. This is usually done through different graphing methods, such as the flowchart, data-flow diagram, etc.
BP Modeling – deals specifically with low-level process maps, with the main purpose being process improvement. While business process modeling, as a concept, is extremely useful, it’s not usually used as a stand-alone. Having a graphical representation of a process is good, but without the right implementation, you won’t go too far.
The KPIs you picked to benchmark, for example, could be wrong. In that case, you wouldn’t have a realistic way to benchmark the new process to the old. To get the implementation part right, BP modeling is usually used as a part of a larger initiative such as:
Business Process Management (BPM) – A methodology of constant process re-evaluation and improvement. Just about the same thing as BPI and BPR, with the main difference being that BPM is continuous. That is, it’s not just a single process improvement initiative, it’s something you do constantly.
Business Process Improvement (BPI) – Usually part of BPM, BPI means the mapping, analysis, and improvement of a single process.
Business Process Reengineering (BPR) – Essentially the same thing as BPI, with the main difference being how you’d change the process. BPR tends to deal with more major changes to the process, such as incorporating technology to completely change the way a process works.
