Process-data diagram: Difference between revisions

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[[ImageFile:PDDProcess-Data Diagram 01.jpg|thumb|320px360px|right|The process data diagram]]

A '''process-data diagram (PDD)''', also known as '''process-deliverable diagram''' is a [[diagram]] that describes [[process (computing)|process]]es and [[data]] that act as output of these processes. On the left side the [[meta-process model]] can be viewed and on the right side the [[metadata modeling|meta concept-data model]] can be viewed.<ref Aname="WSVB">I. process-dataVan diagramde isWeerd, aJ. combinationSouer, ofJ. anVersendaal and [[activitySjaak diagramBrinkkemper]] or(2005). [[process''Situational diagram]]Requirements andEngineering aof Web [[flowchart]]Content Management Implementations''. SREP2005.</ref>

A process-data diagram can be seen as combination of a [[business process model]] and [[data model]].

== Overview ==

The process-data diagram that is depicted at the right, gives an overview of all of these activities/processes and deliverables. The four gray boxes depict the four main [[implementation]] phases, which each contain several processes that are in this case all sequential. [[Image:SAP_Implementation_process-data_diagram.png|320px|right|thumbnail|SAP Implementation process-data diagram]] The boxes at the right show all the deliverables/[[concept]]s that result from the processes. Boxes without a shadow have no further sub-concepts. Boxes with a black shadow depict complex closed concepts, so concepts that have sub-concepts, which however will not be described in any more detail. Boxes with a white shadow (a box behind it) depict open closed concepts, where the sub-concepts are expanded in greater detail. The lines with diamonds show a has-a relationship between concepts.

== Overview ==

The [[SAP implementation]] process is made up out of four main phases, i.e. the project preparation where a vision of the future-state of the SAP solution is being created, a sizing and blueprinting phase where the solution stack is created and [[training]] is being performed, a functional development phase and finally a final preparation phase, when the last [[Software testing|tests]] are being performed before the actual go live. For each phase, the vital activities are addressed and the [[deliverable]]s/[[Product (business)|product]]s are explained.

[[Image:SAP Implementation process-data diagram.png|240px|right|thumbnail|SAP Implementation process-data diagram]]

The process-data diagram that is depicted at the right, gives an overview of all of these activities/processes and deliverables. The four gray boxes depict the four main [[implementation]] phases, which each contain several processes that are in this case all sequential. [[Image:SAP_Implementation_process-data_diagram.png|320px|right|thumbnail|SAP Implementation process-data diagram]] The boxes at the right show all the deliverables/[[concept]]s that result from the processes. Boxes without a shadow have no further sub-concepts. Boxes with a black shadow depict complex closed concepts, so concepts that have sub-concepts, which however will not be described in any more detail. Boxes with a white shadow (a box behind it) depict open closed concepts, where the sub-concepts are expanded in greater detail. The lines with diamonds show a has-a relationship between concepts.

The [[SAP implementation]]Implementation process is made up out of four main phases, i.e. the project preparation where a vision of the future-state of the SAP solution is being created, a sizing and blueprinting phase where thea [[solution stack|software stack]] is createdacquired and [[training]] is being performed, a functional development phase and finally a final preparation phase, when the last [[Software testing|tests]] are being performed before the actual go live. For each phase, the vital activities are addressed and the [[deliverable]]s/[[Product (business)|product]]s are explained.

== Process-data diagram building blocks ==

== Basics ==

=== Sequential activities ===

{{main article|Activity diagram}}

Sequential activities are activities that need to be carried out in a pre-defined order. The activities are connected with an arrow, implying that they have to be followed in that sequence. Both activities and sub-activities can be modeled in a sequential way. In Figure 1 an activity diagram is illustrated with one activity and two sequential sub-activities. A special kind of sequential activities are the start and stop states, which are also illustrated in Figure 1.

In Figure 2 an example from practice is illustrated. The example is taken from the requirements capturing workflow in UML-based Web Engineering. The main activity, user & ___domain modeling, consists of three activities that need to be carried out in a predefined order.

:<gallery>

Image:Mm21Process-Data Diagram 21.gif|1: Sequential activities

Image:Mm22Process-Data Diagram 22.gif|2: Example

Image:Mm23Process-Data Diagram 23.gif|3: Unordered activities

Image:Mm24Process-Data Diagram 24.gif|4: Example

</gallery>

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Unordered activities are used when sub-activities of an activity do not have a pre-defined sequence in which they need to be carried out. Only sub-activities can be unordered. Unordered activities are represented as sub-activities without transitions within an activity, as is represented in Figure 3.

In some specific casesSometimes an activity existsconsists of both sequential and unordered sub-activities. The solution to this modeling issue is to divide the main activity in different parts. In Figure 4 an example is illustrated, which clarifies the necessity to be able to model unordered activities. The example is taken from the requirements analysis workflow of the Unified Process. The main activity, “describe candidate requirements”, is divided into two parts. The first part is a sequential activity. The second part consists of four activities that do not need any sequence in order to be carried out correctly.

=== Concurrent activities ===

Activities can occur concurrently. This is handled with forking and joining. By drawing the activities parallel in the diagram, connected with a synchronization bar, one can fork several activities. Later on these concurrent activities can join again by using the same synchronization bar. Both activities and sub-activities can occur concurrently. In the example of Figure 5, Activity 2 and Activity 3 are concurrent activities.

In Figure 6, a fragment of a requirements capturing process is depicted. Two activities, defining the actors and defining the use cases, are carried out concurrently. The reason for carrying out these activities concurrently is that defining the actors andinfluences the use cases influencesgreatly, each other to aand highvice extendversa.

::<gallery>

Image:Mm25Process-Data Diagram 25.gif|5: Concurrent activities

Image:Mm26Process-Data Diagram 26.gif|6: Example

Image:Mm27Process-Data Diagram 27.gif|7: Conditional activities

Image:Mm28Process-Data Diagram 28.gif|8: Example

</gallery>

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In Figure 8 an example from practice is illustrated. A requirements analysis starts with studying the material. Based on this study, the decision is taken whether to do an extensive requirements elicitation session or not. The condition for not carrying out this requirements session is represented at the left of the branch, namely [requirements clear]. If this condition is not met, [else], the other arrow is followed.

== Process-data diagram ==

The integration of both types of diagrams is quite straightforward. Each action or activity results in a concept. They are connected with a dotted arrow to the produced artifacts, as is demonstrated in Figure 9. The concepts and activities are abstract in this picture.

::[[Image:Mm41.gif|frame|left|Figure 9: Process-Data Diagram]]<br {{clear=|left>}}

In Table 1 a generic table is presented with the description of activities, sub-activities and their relations to the concepts. In section 5 examples are given of both process-data diagram and activity table.

::{| class="wikitable"

:'''Table 1: Activity table'''

:{| class="wikitable"

|- bgcolor="#ccccff"

|'''Activity'''

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|-

|}

::'''Table 1: Activity table'''

== Example of a process-data diagram ==

In Figure 10 an example of a process-data diagram is illustrated. It concerns an example from a the orientation phase of complex project in a WebEngineering method (Van de Weerd, Souer, Versendaal & Brinkkemper).<ref name="WSVB"/>

Notable is the use of open and closed concepts. Since project management is actually not within the scope of this research, the concept CONTROL MANAGEMENT has not been expanded. However, in a complex project is RISK MANAGEMENT of great importance. Therefore, the choice is made to expand the RISK MANAGEMENT concept.

::[[ImageFile:Mm42Process-Data Diagram 41.gif|frame|left|Figure 10: Example Process-Data Diagram - Orientation phase in a complex project]]<br {{clear=|left>}}

In Table 2 the activities and sub-activities, and relation to the concepts are described.

::{| class="wikitable"

:'''Table 2: Activities and sub-activities in a complex orientation phase'''

:{| class="wikitable"

|- bgcolor="#ccccff"

|'''Activity'''

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|-

|}

::'''Table 2: Activities and sub-activities in a complex orientation phase'''

== See also ==

{{commonsCommons category|Category:Process-data diagram}}

* [[Acquisition Initiation (ISPL)]]

* [[Change management (engineering)]]

* [[Customer Configuration Updating:Activation and usage]]

* [[Dynamic Systems Development Method]]

* [[ITIL Planning to implement service management]]

* [[ITIL Security Management]]

* [[Implementation Maturity Model Assessment]]

* [[Managing Stagestage Boundaries (SB)boundaries]]

* [[Market driven requirements engineering for software products]]

* [[Metadata modeling]]

* [[Object Process Methodology]]

* [[PREview]]

* [[Product Family Engineering]]

* [[Product Structure Modeling]]

* [[SAP Implementation]]

* [[Synchronization model]]

== References ==

{{reflist}}

{{Refimprove|date=November 2008}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Process-Data Diagram}}

[[Category:Diagrams]]

[[Category:Systems engineering]]