PICTURE method

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The PICTURE method is a procedure and description language for the documentation and modeling of business processes in public administration . It is characterized by a visual language and uses 24 process modules for the final description of administrative processes.

development

The PICTURE method was developed in 2005 at the Institute for Information Systems at the Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster and at the European Research Center for Information Systems (ERCIS) under the direction of Jörg Becker by Lars Algermissen and Thorsten Falk. It was created as part of an EU-funded research project in the 6th Research Framework Program . In addition to its use in public administration, the PICTURE method is also used in research projects in the health and insurance sectors.

PICTURE process model

overview

The PICTURE method is used to efficiently record and evaluate business processes using standardized, prefabricated process modules. It was specially developed for use in the specialist level of public administration and is currently being used in German-speaking countries in public administrations of all levels (federal and state institutions, district administrations and municipalities) as well as in church administrations, chambers and associations as well as universities . It is characterized by its adaptability, economic efficiency and comprehensibility in the administrative environment. As an introduction to setting goals and selecting processes, the method recommends using a process map for the organizational areas examined. After the selection of the examination area, a process register is set up with target-relevant process properties (attributes). 24 different modules were identified for the area of ​​public administration. The name of the building blocks is borrowed from the terminology of the administrative domain. The level of abstraction of the building blocks is chosen so that basically every administrative process can be described with them on a technical level (“Lego principle”). A process module basically describes a specific technical task. In addition, each process component can be described in more detail using attributes. These attributes can be adjusted depending on the objective of the respective modeling project.

The process modules

The "process modules" are the central element that gives the method its special properties. A single process module represents a task and activity that is recurring in many administrative processes (e.g. "transfer data to EDP" or "forward document"). It is characteristic of a process module that it describes a technical task ("what is being done") and further information - in the form of attributes - describes the technical implementation and thus the activity ("how the task is carried out"). The process modules claim that each administrative process can be described by combining them. Furthermore, the process modules have a meaning that is understandable for administrative staff due to their close technical relationship, their naming and description. The process modules are divided into five categories (content management work, writing / documentation, media change, information procurement / coordination and information flows), which underline the importance of the modules contained by color markings (e.g. red for media breaks).

Function of the PICTURE method

Standardization of the process description

By using the process modules and the definition of the description levels “product”, “process” and “sub-process”, the process description is standardized not only formally, but also in terms of content. This leads to an increased comparability and analyzability of the process models and thus to a reduction of arbitrariness. By embedding the PICTURE method in a European research project, this standardization is ensured throughout Europe.

Employee integration

The uniform and simple description of the administrative processes through the modules enables management units and employees to be actively involved in recording and documenting the processes without major training. This directly supports the integration of employees and promotes acceptance. Furthermore, the process knowledge is recorded where it is available.

Economic modeling and analysis

By defining the process modules in advance, exactly what is required for the later purposes of use (analysis of potential for improvement, use of description elements by uniform contact persons) is mapped in the process models. This means that the effort for creating the process models is kept as low as possible and does not "get out of hand".

Transparent process landscape

Due to the standardized description and the division of labor recording of the processes through the employee integration, not only individual processes can be recorded and documented, but almost the entire "process landscape". In this way, dependencies and uniformities across the entire administration and the actors connected with it can be identified and uniformly and consistently improved. Modernization measures are therefore not only effective locally, but across departments.

Controlled flexibility of the process description

The PICTURE method can be adapted depending on the project goal or the general conditions of an administration. So z. For example, you can freely choose whether working times and throughput times are relevant for the analysis or whether qualitative aspects should be brought to the fore.

Instructions for using the method

The PICTURE method also includes process-oriented instructions that are tailored to public administration. This can be used and adapted for the specific project definition, for planning work steps and for assigning roles.

literature

  • Jörg Becker, Lars Algermissen, Thorsten Falk: Process-oriented administrative modernization: process management in the age of e-government and new public management. 2nd Edition. Springer, Berlin 2009, ISBN 978-3-642-00216-8 .
  • Jörg Becker, Lars Algermissen, Michael Räckers: Process modeling as the key to implementing the EU-DLR: Modeling and management of administrative processes based on the EU-DLR with the PICTURE method. In: Utz Schliesky (Hrsg.): The implementation of the EU service directive in the German administration. Part II: procedures, processes, IT implementation. Kiel 2009, pp. 162-183.
  • Jörg Becker, Lars Algermissen, Daniel Pfeiffer, Michael Räckers: Development of a cross-administrative process register for public administrations with the PICTURE method. In: E. Schweighofer, A. Geist, G. Heindl (Eds.): 10 Years of IRIS: Balance and Outlook. Stuttgart 2007, pp. 189-196.
  • Jörg Becker, Lars Algermissen, Daniel Pfeiffer, Michael Räckers: Block-based modeling of process landscapes with the PICTURE method using the example of the Münster University Administration. In: Business Informatics. 49 (2007) 4, pp. 267-279.