Low Effort – Big Impact – for the Entire Organization
Business Process End-to-End E2E Documentation, tools, methology
My mandate was clear: We need to integrate new systems, but we are not sure whether it is really as simple as the vendors are “selling” it to us.
The IT department was already in project mode. The business, understandably, was still cautious. That hesitation was reasonable. What was missing? Transparency—and the confidence that we can actually pull this off.
What was lacking was the big picture: a clear view and shared understanding of the business itself, its processes, and their interdependencies. Without that big picture, there is no solid plan—no clarity on what needs to change, where problems are likely to occur, and how solutions can be developed.
Day-to-day operations tend to block the view of the whole system. Everyone works within their own department, focusing on their tasks. As long as nothing changes, the machinery runs reliably. But each function only sees its own link in the process chain. What is missing is an understanding of the end-to-end process—the chain as a whole.
In reality, achieving this transparency is surprisingly simple and requires only a reasonable effort—provided it is approached pragmatically. The payoff is significant: the risk of failure in future changes is reduced, adjustments can be made faster, and the organization as a whole becomes more flexible.
In one of my recent projects, I was genuinely surprised—no, shocked. We were sitting together in a large workshop when I asked a seemingly simple question: What are your strengths as a company? Why do customers buy from you?
What followed was a guessing game with lengthy discussions. Everyone had a different assumption, a different perspective. I observed the same pattern again during a carve-out: extensive re-documentation was required just to understand where issues would arise when processes were changed or handed over, and when responsibilities were redefined.
When looking for an affordable tool to document the relationships between business processes, IT systems, and the dependencies created by workflows and interfaces, I came across several very solid options.
The initial list of potential products was long. However, I quickly narrowed it down to tools that were priced in a way that would not trigger endless budget discussions—or, even worse, high recurring costs. That made the shortlist manageable.
My approach was deliberately simple: create transparency quickly. Not a 120% solution, but a solid, pragmatic foundation that delivers immediate value.
Alongside Visual Paradigm (from Hong Kong) and Sparx Enterprise Architect, I came across the open-source project Archi.
Many tools on the market support established industry standards and frameworks, allowing a switch from one tool to another if needed. That was a hard requirement for me. I wanted to avoid any form of vendor lock-in for my client.
My principle is straightforward: no dependency on vendors, no dependency on my personal know-how, and certainly no kickbacks. Always guided by one credo: “Come to leave.”
In that respect, the open-source approach is a perfect fit:
Archi – Open Source ArchiMate Modelling
The result:
- Short term (for the project): Pragmatically reduce risk, identify sources of error, develop solutions, and build confidence in the initiative.
- Long term: Increase efficiency and trust in internal processes, and create a foundation for an organization that is ready and able to change.
Without a clear understanding of your own business, change—and new designs—will not succeed.
Some effort and preparation are required. The real question is: how do you position this internally, involve and motivate others, integrate it into daily operations, and choose the right tools?
Gestern habe ich einen kurzen Artikel zu möglichen Tools https://lnkd.in/dHbQju_g dazu verfasst – natürlich mit dem Hinweis auf unseren IIBA Stammtisch der https://germany.iiba.org.
#digitaltransformation #changemanagement #businessanalysis #enterprisearchitecture