We talk a lot about the benefits of process models, modeling standards, and contextually relevant data but how does it work? Most people look at process models as pictures. We see them as ‘enhanced’ human and machine readable diagrams but diagrams nonetheless. A diagram is “a simplified drawing showing the appearance, structure, or workings of something; a schematic representation.” Diagrams are communication mechanisms. They allow people to share ideas rapidly and collaborat

Part 1: What a Map Can Do For A Business Image Courtesy of Creative Commons Can you imagine driving to a new location without your cell phone or a GPS system? Without a map a lot of us would be driving around aimlessly and feeling lost. Thankfully we have developed extensive mapping systems with details such as traffic, road work, etc. to help us navigate to our desired destination in the most time efficient way. Many of us have experienced this feeling in business too. It is

Happy Spring From Thought Layer! In anticipation and celebration of the upcoming warm weather we are bringing Cocktail Engineering back to our blog! You may have recalled our first cocktail engineering exercise where we engineered the Classic Manhattan recipe. Our Cocktail Engineering practice follows aspects of our Business Engineering methodology, including the use of formal Business Process Model and Notation 2.0 (BPMN) process models to document our favorite cocktail re

Collaboration is often thought to be the key to organizational success, especially as business becomes increasingly global and cross-functional. From LinkedIn to Forbes and Havard Business Journal, we consistently hear about the importance of collaboration in the digital workplace. Despite this focus on collaboration, it remains an overused-under practiced word. The real challenge is defining exactly what we collaborating about. Does the group, the team, the leaders, the orga

Do you take for granted the underlying complexity involved at the intersection of business processes, systems and tools? Successful implementation of modern integrated IT systems requires that the complexity of both human and technological systems is respected and captured in an integrated design and architecture. Properly designed systems allow organizations to efficiently implement, manage, and optimize their processes, information, and infrastructure to meet their ever cha

Does your organization have a common integrated approach to enhance communication, measure outcomes, manage resources, solve problems, and deliver capabilities? If not, your likely lost in a sea of Power Points, Word Documents, expensive meetings, challenging days, and poor outcomes. To succeed in an increasingly complex and data driven world organizations should take a cue from the past 8,000 years of human history: develop maps to understand your environment and use them to

Modeling cocktails to demonstrate why your business will benefit from Business Engineering To get in the spirit of the holiday season, we decided to develop a BPMN 2.0 business process model of making a classic Manhattan cocktail. We had some fun but also discovered that turning recipes into business process models is a great way to illustrate why models are so beneficial to your business. Here's an overview of what we saw: Improved Clarity: Not unlike a business, the recipe