ARIS toolset

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Modeling with ARIS Express

The ARIS Toolset or the ARIS Platform (today's name) is a software tool from Darmstadt-based Software AG for designing, maintaining and optimizing business processes that is based on the ARIS concept. According to a 1997 study by Gartner Inc. , the ARIS Toolset was the market leader among software for business process modeling .

history

Between 1990 and 1991 , the first prototypes for business process modeling based on the ARIS concept were developed at Saarland University , under the direction of Professor August-Wilhelm Scheer . The company IDS Scheer , founded by Scheer, started developing the software in 1992, which was first presented at CeBIT 1993. One of the success factors of the ARIS tool set was that in the 1990s companies were ready to invest in business process reengineering . Another success factor was the early commitment to SAP R / 3 ; the success of SAP also made the ARIS toolset known.

use

ARIS Toolset is often used when implementing SAP systems, but the product is also suitable for other applications. Thus, the ARIS Toolset can also find use when under an ISO 9001 - certified , a quality manual must be created. In this case, the software can automatically create different parts of this quality manual from the process database. ARIS is also used in classic process optimization projects or to describe the business processes (technical conception) for the subsequent derivation of IT concepts and the development of own software applications. ARIS Toolset has recently been used more and more to implement company guidelines (e.g. Sarbanes-Oxley Act , Management Risk Controlling, etc.).

Functions

The ARIS Toolset consists of different modules / components. These are:

  • Modeling: This is the basic functionality of the ARIS tool set for designing business processes and includes a graphical model editor, database management, user management, model management, object management, as well as layout and model generation. For example, graphic model objects can be created and changed, databases can be created, changed and deleted, user and access rights management can be generated, or layout and model generation can take place.
  • Publishing (navigation): It provides read access to the models of the business processes and is therefore often referred to as a passive component. The aim is to clearly display the relevant model information for every role in the company. This access takes place exclusively via a web browser.
  • Analysis / simulation: The aim here is model-based evaluation, i.e. H. the generation of key figures on the basis of which the models can be evaluated. A distinction is made between static and dynamic recording of the key figures.
  • Process costing: The aim is to evaluate the functions of the indirect service areas in terms of costs. The basis are the models and the systematically recorded data from the process
  • Balanced Scorecard
  • Reporting: The task of reporting is to flexibly evaluate all information according to different points of view and to prepare it in a structured and easily understandable form for the purpose of decision support.
  • Configuration: It enables existing standard objects to be hidden or new customer objects to be added in order to enable an individual overview.

technology

From a technical point of view, the software is a database-based modeling tool that enables collaborative descriptions and analyzes of directed graphs . In by far the most important use case of process modeling business objects (activities, people, risk, IT systems etc.) as nodes and the interaction of these objects with each other (eg. As "used" or "staff is responsible for") as edges within directed graphs (models) shown. The modeler can maintain configurable attributes on both nodes and edges. Exemplary attributes in business process modeling are object name, processing time and probability of occurrence (at edges).

The description is made e.g. B. via value chains ("coarse") down to fine-grained " event-driven process chains" (EPKs). Most of the modeling is done graphically. Each graphic modeling element corresponds to a methodically defined object; thus the modeling elements can only build meaningful relationships. All recorded (process) content is saved in a database parallel to the graphic display, can be edited there and is available for analysis and evaluation. For example, times, costs or other resources that are important in a company with regard to the optimization of business processes are analyzed.

The various products support a variety of standards such as BPMN , WSDL , XSD , BPEL or UML .

ARIS Platform

All ARIS-related products have now been brought together in the ARIS Platform. ARIS Platform is a registered term and is therefore not translated using ARIS Platform. The ARIS Platform includes all ARIS products for business process management, from strategy to implementation and controlling of business processes. ARIS Platform products such as ARIS Business Architect , ARIS Business Designer and ARIS Business Publisher are web-based and replace the ARIS Toolset and ARIS Web Publisher products, which are being phased out . The ARIS Platform is divided into four sub-platforms that are based on the life cycle of process management: Strategy, Design, Implementation and Controlling.

While the above-mentioned products are commercial software offerings, IDS Scheer started the market launch of the free modeling tool ARIS Express in summer 2009 and reported 8,000 downloads around 1.5 months later.

Trivia

The ARIS Platform and ARIS Express products contain a hidden game ( Easter Egg ). To activate this, the version dialog must first be called up via the main menu item Help → About. Then click with the left mouse button several times on the program icon.

literature

  • August-Wilhelm Scheer, Wolfram Jost: Aris in practice , Verlag Springer DE, 2002, ISBN 3642559247
  • Rob Davis, Eric Brabänder: ARIS Design Platform: Getting Started with BPM , Verlag Springer, 2007, ISBN 1846286131

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Rob Davis: Business Process Modeling With Aris: A Practical Guide , Verlag Springer, 2001, ISBN 1852334347 , p. 16.
  2. ↑ Scheer, A.-W .; Jost W .: ARIS in Practice (2002) p. 15.
  3. ↑ Scheer, A.-W .; Jost W .: ARIS in Practice (2002) p. 15 ff.
  4. ↑ ARIS modeling standards. Archived from the original on July 10, 2009 ; accessed on January 31, 2014 .
  5. ↑ ARIS Express released. Retrieved January 31, 2014 .
  6. ↑ ARIS Community: 10,000 members in 5 months. Retrieved January 31, 2014 .
  7. ↑ Do not read this post! Retrieved January 31, 2014 .