The Integration of Functional Decomposition with UML Notation in Business Process Modelling

Abstract

Over the past decade business and software modelling have been carried out using different notations designed to fit the special needs of the respective tasks. This approach has introduced a gap between the software and business models, which has resulted in inconsistency. The objective of this paper is to propose a new approach to analysis of the business process using UML notation. UML is the most commonly used language in object-oriented software development. Moreover, it can be extended to the modelling of business processes. With this approach it is possible, in the same notation, to visualise a company’s business processes, its information system requirements and the architecture of the relevant information system. However, object-oriented decomposition is not well suited to business process modelling. In an object-oriented methodology the decomposition is achieved by objects on which operations are performed. The aspects of the process are hidden within the objects. In this case functional decomposition from structured methodology is a much better choice. Functional decomposition provides a high degree of abstraction, which is sufficient for business experts. It simplifies the analysis of business by breaking down (decomposing) the problem into the functional steps of which it is made up. The primary aim of this paper has been to integrate functional decomposition with UML notation in order to model business processes. A case study is presented as an illustration.