What is BPM and how does it relate to SOA?
5th Oct 2016
What is BPM and how does it relate to SOA?
Running a business in the modern world requires the assistance of machines, software that's literally on-call 24/7 and designed to perform just one or two critical tasks. Both BPM and SOA comprise this sector of a business' operation, but where SOA is more focused on technology, BPM encompasses everything from technology to the human elements keeping it all running. In other words, business process management is the umbrella term used to describe how automated processes are constructed, maintained, deployed, appended and managed.
What is BPM (business process management)?
The idea behind BPM is attempt to perfectly align a business' resources so that things can run more smoothly, for a longer period of time and at a much faster pace. As a result of improving overall efficiency and speed, most businesses will in turn record additional profits. So, the technology, IT personnel, applications used, SOA and data itself are all parts of a BPM; it is basically all inclusive. BPM is essentially a stage that's positioned directly between an organizations technical assets (IT), and actual POS (point of sale) processes.
What BPM ultimately seeks to achieve is a complete elimination of human error within the technology sector of an organization (including communications as well as the technology being implemented) so that the entire company can become more stabilized. Think of it this way, a great machine that rarely breaks down often has a small number of moving parts. A business that engages an active BPM routine is really seeking to transform their IT contingency into a stable force unto itself. In doing so, other aspects of a business can come to rely more heavily on the technological resources that are available, giving them more room to maneuver and a much more stable platform to stand on as well.
How does BPM relate to SOA?
In truth, BPM and SOA are 'cut from the same cloth'. BPM and SOA are both concerned with the same area of operation, namely, interfacing technology with business operations, sales and providing customers with access to their assets via some form of stylized software / technology. So, SOA in its many forms could be considered a part of any organization's BPM (assuming that it utilizes a SOA for some task or tasks). The key difference between BPM and SOA is their chief area of focus; for BPM it is people and for SOA it is technology. However, both processes seek to achieve the same ends with regards to the implementation of technological assets; increase overall efficiency, speed / response, agility, reduce expenditures, and of course, make it simple and easy to implement new creative solutions.
The 3 types of BPM frameworks
Like most other forms of infrastructure, BPM also comes in assorted flavors, if you will….
- Vertical - designed to be deployed in situations where specific tasks are present and need to be addressed directly. Vertical frameworks often feature extensive resources laid out in templates which can also be customized fairly effortlessly.
- Horizontal - this particular type of framework is devoted to helping individuals actually design new strategies for using software to meet demands or solve ongoing problems.
- Full Service - arguably the ultimate business IT solution stack. A full service framework allows managerial forces to construct customized tailored solutions using a bevy of resources. What you are presented with is essentially a blank canvas where you have to input rules, identify all elements of a project, perform your own testing procedures, as well as implement your own workflow engine (procedures, steps and rules).
The widespread examination (and adoption of) BPM by businesses has marked the beginning of a new era in business. We are now living in a time where man is becoming even more reliant on machines than ever before. For some, this herald a changing of the guard, so to speak, and looks to open the door to new profits and breakthroughs; still, some others may only see reliance on technology in a less than favorable light. It is important to keep in mind that BPM is in all actuality, a human-centric process and only concerned with creating a platform that enables management to gain a clear insight into (and better use of) the machinations of their organization's technological assets.