Process Inputs, Outputs and Goals

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Hi,

Interesting question! Let's look at one example, of which the mapping is attached as Figure 1_.doc for better formatting.

RESPONSE:

1. Briefly map in terms of process inputs, outputs, and goals (example)

Common flow modeling and process languages, whether in graphical form like the Unified Modeling Language (UML), or textual form as in programming languages, usually describe inputs and outputs as entities "passed in" or "passed out" of
a process. Inputs are normally required to be passed in for a process to start and outputs are required to be passed out for it to complete.

For example (see figure 1 attached), a step in the milling process may achieve the required shape for the metal, but it will not place the piece of metal in the location defined as the output of the milling process until the process is completely done. The intuition is that the process has a "boundary" and the employer of the process need only provide the proper inputs to get the desired outputs. However, as seen in the simple example of the milling process below the process is not as linear as suggested because the process goals determine both the inputs and outputs (http://www.nist.gov/msidlibrary/doc/nistir7152.pdf).

Using goals to determine inputs and outputs

Process goals usually involve only some of the resources in the process. For example, oil (output) might not be referred to in the goals for milling, because a technique for milling might exist that does not need oil. Non-goal variables are only required for particular ways of reaching a goal, not for reaching the goal in general. They might still be inputs and outputs, but would be under a separate view from those related to the goal. The relation of resources (raw materials) and goals is complicated by the fact that process designers often assume certain technologies are available or not for implementation of their goal. However, the instructions given by the process designer to the ...