Smart Process Snippets: Enabling the Digital Business

Smart Process Snippets: Enabling the Digital Business
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It has been proven that end-to-end or large-scoped processes can behave intelligently by calling out to big data analytics, predictive analytics, cognitive knowledge services, mining, optimization, and signal or pattern recognition services. In many cases, the process software can embed these capabilities in a process/case to augment a case or process, identify opportunities for change, and make adjustments in flight. These are centralized and encompassing processes, but the idea of smaller sub-processes, or  process snippets, that can be leveraged in different contexts in a static or dynamic mode is emerging. They may be either in a centrally controlled case or process, or acting autonomously. How do snippets get smart?

Called at the Right Time

Snippets are effective when they are linked to a case or process, and are often called sub-processes, which are created to take some form of action, like analysis or work tasks. Snippets are linked sets of associated services that work in a packet for the good of the central process or case. Often, they are reused and leveraged in multiple processes and elevate the granular service approach to associated and collaborative services.

Triggered by Signals or Patterns

Snippets can be context sensitive when they are linked to signals, event data, and patterns. Patterns are a set of signals, or event data, that are saved and watched over a period of time. By linking these snippets, which may convey a need for further analysis or action, they can lay dormant until the need of their work and outcomes is made apparent. This is a fast-growing approach for known signals, events, and patterns.

Focusing in on an Emerging Need

Snippets are enabled to look for opportunities instead of being locked to a process, case, or a signal/pattern, but the work they were designed to complete can occur without central control. These snippets sense for the right conditions to wake up and perform their duties. In advanced uses, they can swarm to a problem to bid on doing the work, or complete the work automatically. In this instance, the snippets are generally goal driven and constrained from bad behavior

Net; Net

Just like dynamic pixels make up a picture or moving videos, the process of the future will consist of multiple snippets instead of a single (or a few) monolithic process(es). These snippets will sometimes work in a process or case framework, or other times outside this framework acting independently and guided by constraints.

Learn more about TIBCO ActiveMatrix® BPM 4.0’s rapid, low code apps and case management capabilities to see how you can put smart process snippets to use for your digital business.

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Jim Sinur is an independent thought leader in applying business process management (BPM) to innovative and intelligent business operations (IBO). His research and areas of personal experience focus on business process innovation, business modeling, business process management technology (iBPMS), process collaboration for knowledge workers, process intelligence/optimization, business policy/rule management (BRMS), and leveraging business applications in processes. When with Gartner, Mr. Sinur was critical in creating the first Hype Cycle and Maturity Model, which have become a hallmark of Gartner analysis, along with the Magic Quadrant. Prior to joining Gartner, Mr. Sinur was a director of technologies with American Express, where he worked on a large, industrial-strength, model-driven implementation of a business-critical merchant management system. Before American Express, Mr. Sinur worked for Northwestern Mutual Life, where he was involved in leading-edge projects like the Underwriting Workbench that employed many new and emerging methods and technologies. This was after he was involved with building and re-architecting many major applications on the investment and annuity side of NML's business.