Business: Function Modelling

Function Modelling - What Is It

Written by John Owens

You are free to copy and send this article to whomever you think may find it of interest. The only conditions are that you copy and send it in its entirety and include all of repparttar

resource details at repparttar 105199

bottom of

article each time you send it.

Many of repparttar 105201 terms used in this article are standard terms used in repparttar 105202 Integrated Modelling Method (IMM™) details of which can be found at repparttar 105203 end of this article.

For a full colour version of this article complete with diagrams, please send an email with "Request for Article 502 HTML" in repparttar 105204 subject to: articles@smart-training.co.uk ***************************************************************** Function Modelling! What IS That? An article by John Owens Creator of repparttar 105205 Integrated Modelling Method (IMM™) ***************************************************************** Function Modelling Is repparttar 105206 Foundation of All Business Modelling! ***************************************************************** Knowing this one fact and keeping it foremost in your mind will enable you to build business models very quickly that are focussed, relevant, rigorous and easy to understand. If you start with any other model when doing business modelling you are off course - and may never get back! ***************************************************************** Know Your Functions and You Know Your Business ***************************************************************** This is another fact to keep foremost in your mind, because, from your business functions (commonly called 'functions') you can derive all of your other business models - including information and data models. ***************************************************************** What is a Function? ***************************************************************** But what is a business function? Here is a definition that you should commit to memory: "A business function is an activity, or coherent set of activities, that a business must perform in order to meet its business objectives and continue in existence". "It is what repparttar 105207 business ought to be doing" I use repparttar 105208 term 'ought' as businesses are often doing things that are so far away from what they ought to be doing that it is a miracle that they continue to exist. If you find out from business managers what repparttar 105209 business ought to be doing and model this - as opposed to modelling anything else - then your models will enable repparttar 105210 business to go to where it ought to be. Example of business functions are: Accept Order from Customer Dispatch Goods to Customer Accept Payment from Customer Pay Suppliers for Good Received ***************************************************************** Is a Function a Department? ***************************************************************** The term 'function' is often incorrectly used to mean a department within a business. People will often refer to repparttar 105211 'Finance Function' when they really mean repparttar 105212 'Finance Department'. This misuse of repparttar 105213 term should be avoided! The term 'Finance Function' is still a valid term when used to mean 'all of repparttar 105214 finance activities required to support repparttar 105215 business'. So what do you call repparttar 105216 Finance Department? Easy, repparttar 105217 'Finance Department'! ***************************************************************** Is a Function a Process ***************************************************************** This is perhaps repparttar 105218 most common and most serious area of confusion. Many (sadly far too many) analysts (and business people too) use repparttar 105219 term 'process' when what they are actually referring to is a function. Business functions and business processes are not repparttar 105220 same thing. A business process is repparttar 105221 definition of repparttar 105222 order in which business functions are carried out in response to a trigger in order to achieve a desired outcome. ***************************************************************** For an e-book describing process modelling in detail go to: www.smart-training.co.uk/shop.htm ***************************************************************** What is Function Modelling? ***************************************************************** Function modelling is all about identifying, analysing and modelling business functions, independently of: · how they are currently done · who currently does them. · repparttar 105223 current organisation structure The real power of Function Modelling is realised by concentrating on identifying, analysing and modelling what repparttar 105224 business ought to be doing as opposed to how repparttar 105225 business currently does things. The main reason for this is that how things are done in a business can change dramatically over time (due to changes in such things as policy, technology, etc.) whereas what has to be done, by and large, remains repparttar 105226 same. ***************************************************************** The Stages of Function Modelling ***************************************************************** In order for Function Modelling to be truly effective it must be done in a structured and ordered fashion. In all there are five distinct stages to Function Modelling: · Information gathering · Analysis and investigation · Modelling · Feedback · Implementation Because there are five stages this does not mean that function modelling takes forever. If done properly it can be done very quickly, but following repparttar 105227 five stages ensures that it is not only done quickly but done correctly too!

"Even if you are on the Right Track, You're Probably Going to Get Run Over If You Just Stand There".

Written by Kerrie Mercel

"Even if you are on repparttar

Right Track, You're Probably Going to Get Run Over If You Just Stand There". Deliver Astounding Profits using Extraordinary Copy Secrets!

G’day,

So what’s repparttar 105197 problem? You have a great business, product or affiliate program. You understand your market. Your profit margin is good. Your order taking system is up and running. Sadly, but expectantly you peer into your email box every morning . . . where are repparttar 105198 orders?

If you are trying to reach your target market via repparttar 105199 internet your copy might as well be written in Chinese if you are just stating product facts.

You have to tell, not sell.

You can employ repparttar 105200 best designer in repparttar 105201 world, produce repparttar 105202 most stunning ads and cosmetically appealing web site ever seen, but it doesn't really matter because consumers are looking for solutions to their problem, not someone raving on about how good their product are.

Regardless of what you're trying to sell, you really can't sell it without "talking" with your prospective buyer. You have to go back to basics. It’s all about solving your buyer’s problem, gaining their trust and simply talking to them like a real person.

All exceptional copy "tells" rather than “sells”. Your reader is a human being just like you. When you are watching TV and an ad comes on, don’t you get up and get a snack, drink or chat to your partner? So how effective do you think a written advertisement will be? If repparttar 105203 reader chats to their partner, they aren’t reading your copy are they? They probably won’t go back to reading it either.

Think about how you can "set repparttar 105204 scene" by appealing to a desire or need. Tell a personal story, and then let it flow smoothly into a "visionary" explanation by describing in detail how wonderful life will be and, how "good" repparttar 105205 prospective buyer is going to feel after he's purchased your product. This is repparttar 105206 "body or guts" of repparttar 105207 copy.

Cont'd on page 2 ==>