Modeling a Business Context

This topic describes the procedure to model a business context.

A business context model (BCM) depicts the whole set of business processes and business components adopted by a company. A BCM serves as a structuring, communication, and knowledge transfer model that can be used to explain the business model structure and content. A BCM consists of value chain units and business process categories linked together in accordance to their business relationships. You can model your BCM using the business context modeling environment.

1. Select a starting point and select (Business Context Model) to create a business context model. The Untitled Business Context Model - Business Context Model window appears.

   Note:
   At this point, you may choose to save the business context to model it later, or model the business context first as mentioned from Step 2 through Step 14 and then save it.

2. To add a value chain unit to the business context model, click (Value Chain Unit) in the toolbox, drag it to the business context modeler, and type a name for the value chain unit. To view the toolbox after it is closed, click (Options) and select Toolbox.
3. Associate any one of the following to the value chain unit:

   Option	Action
   (Business Partner)	Add a business partner to the value chain unit by doing any one of the following: In the Workspace Documents, expand <Project> and drag (Business Partner) to the value chain unit. or In the Workspace Documents, expand <Project> and drag (Business Partner) to the value chain unit. or Click , select and from existing list of documents, drag required (Business Partner) on to the value chain unit.
   (Business Partner Category)	Add a business partner category to the value chain unit by doing any one of the following: In the Workspace Documents, expand <Project> and drag (Business Partner Category) to the value chain unit. or Click , select and from existing list of documents, drag required (Business Partner Category) on to the value chain unit.
   (Business Process Category)	Add a business process category to the value chain unit by doing any one of the following: Click (Business Process Category) on the toolbox and drag it to the value chain unit. or Click , select and from existing list of documents, drag (Business Process Category) on to the value chain unit. or In Workspace Documents, expand <project> and drag required (Business Process Category) on to the value chain unit.

4. Set the properties of the value chain unit.
5. To view and set the properties of the business process category, double-click it. Alternatively, right-click the business process category and select Properties. The Business Process Category-Business Process Category Properties pane appears.
6. In theBusiness Process Category-Business Process Category Properties pane, do the following:
   1. Click the General tab, provide a Description for the business process category, and select the required Font size and Color.
   2. Click the Business Process Categories tab and click . The Select Business Process Category dialog box appears displaying a list of existing business process categories. Select required business process category and click Finish.
      • To delete a business process category, select its check box and click .
      • To view information for a business process category or multiple business process categories, select respective check boxes and click .
   3. Click theBusiness Processes tab and click . The Select Business Process dialog box appears displaying a list of existing business process models. Select the required business process model and click Finish.
      • To delete a business process model, select its check box and click .
      • To view a business process model(s), select required check boxes and click .
   4. Click theAnnotation tab to provide any additional information on the business process category.
7. Attach the required business processes to the business process category.
8. To link the value chain unit and business process category elements using a Physical Flow connector, click on the toolbox, drag it and place it between them. The physical flow connector connects the value chain units by passing over the added business process categories.

   Note:
   You can resize a connector by selecting it and dragging it to the length required.

9. To set the properties of a (Physical Flow) connector, right- click and select Properties or double-click the connector.
   1. In the physicalflow-Properties pane, click the General tab and type a description for the connector in the Description field.
   2. Click the Annotation tab and type any additional notes or comments on the connector.
10. To add a stock point, click (Stock Point) on the toolbar and place it on the physical flow connector. You can add any number of stock points on the connector based on the stock processes required in your business transactions.
11. To set the properties of a stock point, double-click the stock point to view the Properties - Stock Point pane.
    1. Click the General tab and type a description for the stock point in the Description field.
    2. In the General tab sheet, click to apply different color schemes to the stock point.
    3. Click the Annotation tab and type additional notes or comments, if any, on the stock point.
12. To insert a sub-context model, click on the toolbar and drag it on to the business context modeling environment.
13. Set the properties of the sub-context model.
14. Click to save the business context model.
15. Right-click the business context model and select Validate Model. If you encounter errors, resolve them and re-validate the business context model.

You have successfully modeled a business context.

A Sample Business Context Model