Model-driven business process integration and management: A case study with the Bank SinoPac regional service platform

Abstract

Business process integration and management (BPIM) is a critical element in enterprise business transformation. Small and medium-sized businesses have their own requirements for BPIM solutions: The engagement methodology should be fast and efficient; a reusable and robust framework is required to reduce cost; and the whole platform should be lightweight so that one can easily revise, develop, and execute solutions. We believe that model-driven technologies are the key to solving all of the challenges mentioned above. Model Blue, a set of model-driven business integration and management methods, frameworks, supporting tools, and a runtime environment, was developed by the IBM China Research Laboratory (CRL) in Beijing to study the efficacy of model-driven BPIM. To verify the technology and methodology, Model Blue was deployed with Bank SinoPac, a mid-sized bank headquartered in Taiwan. A lightweight BPIM solution platform was delivered for Bank SinoPac to design, develop, and deploy its business logic and processes. During the eight-month life span of the project, IBM teams developed four major solutions for Bank SinoPac, which also developed one solution independently. In spite of the remote working environment and the outbreak of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome illness, the project was completed successfully on schedule and within budget, with up to 30% efficiency improvement compared with similar projects. Bank SinoPac was satisfied with the technology and methodology, and awarded IBM other projects. In this paper, we illustrate how each key business process integration and solution development phase was carried out and guided by business process modeling, together with major experiences gained. The following technical aspects are discussed in detail: a two-dimensional business process modeling view to integrate flow modeling and data modeling; a lightweight processing logic automation environment with tooling support; and the end-to-end BPIM methodology, with models and documents successfully integrated as part of (or replacement for) the deliverables defined in the existing servicing methodologies and software engineering approaches. © Copyright 2004 by International Business Machines Corporation.