The assessment methods include one group project (project plan and software prototype) 30% and an individual report (to critically evaluate the project) 70%

In order to achieve the threshold standard for the award of credits for this module, the student must meet the following criteria related to the learning outcomes described below:  

• Demonstrate analysis skills by analysing the business processes of a company.  
• Demonstrate design skills by designing and improving a graphical business process model of a company.  
• Demonstrate verbal and written presentation skills.  
• Demonstrate interpersonal skills by operating effectively within a group and understanding the roles of individual group members.  

This new module is designed to introduce to students the concepts of business process modelling and the way this can be put to good effect in the search for information systems opportunities.

The aims of this module are to guide the students through advanced concepts of business process modelling. Students will be taught how to model business processes through the construction of UML activity diagrams. In addition, they will gain an understanding of the information systems opportunities that such modelling can uncover.

UML Activity diagrams 
Business processes in general 
Specific business processes, e.g., for a trading company, or a service organisation 
Modelling business processes, e.g., sequential, and parallel 
Seeking opportunities to improve on business processes 
Identify how information systems can help improving business processes 

The teaching and learning strategy is designed to emphasise the importance of software project management in the business environment and to develop the skills needed to manage and build a software solution, including opportunities for e-commerce.  

The teaching and learning methods include a weekly lecture and weekly three-hour workshops in the computing laboratory, during which students will be required to present design walk-through seminars of work-in-progress  

Set text 

Magal S., and Word, J., 'Essentials of Business Processes and Information Systems'. Published by Wiley, 2009 (ISBN 978-0-470-23059-6)

Recommended text  

 Rumbaugh, J., I. Jacobson & G. Booch, The unified modeling language reference model, Addison-Wesley, 2000   

Hammer & Champy, Reengineering the corporation, Harper Business, 2004

Further reading

Ould, M. Business Processes : Modelling and Analysis for Re-Engineering and Improvement, 1995

Davis , R., Business Process modelling with ARIS, A practical guide, 2001   

6th July 2009