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Concepts

This topic provides basic background information needed to complete this tutorial.

Using process authoring, a Process Engineer can incorporate method elements into process structures, for example, a work breakdown structure format familiar to Project Managers. The processes can be included in a configuration to be published as part of the published Web site, and can also be exported to Microsoft® Project.

In method authoring, the Process Engineer defines roles, tasks, work products and guidance, in addition to the relationships between these elements.

In process authoring, the Process Engineer defines additional lifecycle elements, such as activities (summary tasks), phases, iterations, and milestones, that can then be used to compose the core elements into processes. A complete process corresponding to a project plan, or a phase, is a delivery process. The OpenUp process is an example. We can also create smaller more granular sections of process, termed capability patterns, that can be used as building blocks to more easily compose delivery processes.

Each time a task is included in a process, a copy of that task is created in the context of the process. This is a task descriptor. The same task can be included any number of times in the same process. This allows, for example, the same OpenUp task to be included in each iteration within each OpenUp Phase. A task descriptor can also modify the base task without actually changing the task. For example, roles and work products can be added or suppressed, steps can be suppressed or re-sequenced.

Roles and work products are also included in processes as role descriptors and work product descriptors. Roles and work products can also be customized to fit with the context of the process in which they are used.

Process Diagrams

EPF Composer provides three types of process diagrams:
  • Activity diagrams: These diagrams show the subordinate activities in a higher level activity. They also show the sequence relationships between those activities.
  • Activity detail diagrams: These diagrams show tasks in an activity with their performing roles along with input and output work products. Activity detail diagrams are similar to workflow detail diagrams.
  • Work product dependency diagrams: These diagrams illustrate work product dependencies on other work products.
All three types of diagrams are generated and synchronized with the associated work breakdown structure. Changes to the process structure using the diagram editor will be automatically reflected in the work breakdown structure.
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