Comments on: Modeling Processes in a Browser with Appian http://www.column2.com/2006/11/modeling-processes-in-a-browser-with-appian/ BPM, Enterprise 2.0 and technology trends in business. Sat, 20 Mar 2010 19:18:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: David Benson http://www.column2.com/2006/11/modeling-processes-in-a-browser-with-appian/comment-page-1/#comment-13591 David Benson Tue, 05 Jan 2010 10:13:13 +0000 http://www.column2.com/2006/11/modeling-processes-in-a-browser-with-appian/#comment-13591 Worth noting mxGraph - http://www.jgraph.com/mxgraph.html. It's a JavaScript component for any browser designed to enable interactive creation of BPM diagrams without any plugins. It just loads as part of a standard web page. Worth noting mxGraph – http://www.jgraph.com/mxgraph.html. It’s a JavaScript component for any browser designed to enable interactive creation of BPM diagrams without any plugins. It just loads as part of a standard web page.

]]> By: Sandy Kemsley http://www.column2.com/2006/11/modeling-processes-in-a-browser-with-appian/comment-page-1/#comment-5680 Sandy Kemsley Sat, 08 Sep 2007 03:17:57 +0000 http://www.column2.com/2006/11/modeling-processes-in-a-browser-with-appian/#comment-5680 Proforma's ProVision is a full business process analysis tool -- I don't think that you can compare that with a BPMS' process modeller like Appian. I covered ProVision extensively from their user conference last year at http://www.column2.com/category/proformavision2006 BPA tools like ProVision include modelling of many aspects of a business besides just the parts of a process that will be automated, whereas Appian's tool (and that of all other BPMS vendors) is intended to model those processes -- and the steps within them -- that will be automated in their execution environment. ProVision includes other functionality that you're not going to find in a BPMS process modeller, such as full modelling of enterprise architecture (not just processes) and publishing of the models along with a great deal of background information and metadata to a web version that can be made available for training purposes on an organization's intranet. Proforma’s ProVision is a full business process analysis tool — I don’t think that you can compare that with a BPMS’ process modeller like Appian. I covered ProVision extensively from their user conference last year at http://www.column2.com/category/proformavision2006

BPA tools like ProVision include modelling of many aspects of a business besides just the parts of a process that will be automated, whereas Appian’s tool (and that of all other BPMS vendors) is intended to model those processes — and the steps within them — that will be automated in their execution environment.

ProVision includes other functionality that you’re not going to find in a BPMS process modeller, such as full modelling of enterprise architecture (not just processes) and publishing of the models along with a great deal of background information and metadata to a web version that can be made available for training purposes on an organization’s intranet.

]]> By: Waqas Mirza http://www.column2.com/2006/11/modeling-processes-in-a-browser-with-appian/comment-page-1/#comment-5645 Waqas Mirza Thu, 30 Aug 2007 20:57:40 +0000 http://www.column2.com/2006/11/modeling-processes-in-a-browser-with-appian/#comment-5645 Sandy, how do Appian's process modeling tools compare to Metastorm's (formerly Proforma) tools. Please advise. Thanks. Sandy, how do Appian’s process modeling tools compare to Metastorm’s (formerly Proforma) tools. Please advise. Thanks.

]]> By: BPMS Watch http://www.column2.com/2006/11/modeling-processes-in-a-browser-with-appian/comment-page-1/#comment-5275 BPMS Watch Sun, 28 Jan 2007 06:07:32 +0000 http://www.column2.com/2006/11/modeling-processes-in-a-browser-with-appian/#comment-5275 <strong>What What

]]> By: Pravin Kanyadi http://www.column2.com/2006/11/modeling-processes-in-a-browser-with-appian/comment-page-1/#comment-5274 Pravin Kanyadi Mon, 18 Dec 2006 15:06:14 +0000 http://www.column2.com/2006/11/modeling-processes-in-a-browser-with-appian/#comment-5274 Hi Sandy ,I would be glad to arrange for a demo anytime this week .Please let me know when would you be interested in the same .We can do it over Webex. Hi Sandy ,I would be glad to arrange for a demo anytime this week .Please let me know when would you be interested in the same .We can do it over Webex.

]]> By: Sandy Kemsley http://www.column2.com/2006/11/modeling-processes-in-a-browser-with-appian/comment-page-1/#comment-5273 Sandy Kemsley Mon, 18 Dec 2006 09:20:29 +0000 http://www.column2.com/2006/11/modeling-processes-in-a-browser-with-appian/#comment-5273 Pravin, thanks for your comment about Cordys. I've heard about your product, but have never had the chance to see it. Maybe you can arrange a demo sometime? Pravin, thanks for your comment about Cordys. I’ve heard about your product, but have never had the chance to see it. Maybe you can arrange a demo sometime?

]]> By: Pravin Kanyadi http://www.column2.com/2006/11/modeling-processes-in-a-browser-with-appian/comment-page-1/#comment-5272 Pravin Kanyadi Mon, 18 Dec 2006 05:07:10 +0000 http://www.column2.com/2006/11/modeling-processes-in-a-browser-with-appian/#comment-5272 Cordys has a completely ‘ browser ‘ based BPM modeler which provides a comprehensive fully complaint BPMN based graphical modeler with support for even complex BPMN constructs like Intermediate message , compensate etc .Its a AJAX based environment which allows you to model , execute and monitor business process at real time .It provides a powerful environment to develop hybrid business process model capable of both human and system integration. The browser based environment supports out of box KPI and Graphs for Business Activity monitoring and supports industry standards like BPEL and BPML . Cordys has a completely ‘ browser ‘ based BPM modeler which provides a comprehensive fully complaint BPMN based graphical modeler with support for even complex BPMN constructs like Intermediate message , compensate etc .Its a AJAX based environment which allows you to model , execute and monitor business process at real time .It provides a powerful environment to develop hybrid business process model capable of both human and system integration. The browser based environment supports out of box KPI and Graphs for Business Activity monitoring and supports industry standards like BPEL and BPML .

]]> By: Sandy Kemsley http://www.column2.com/2006/11/modeling-processes-in-a-browser-with-appian/comment-page-1/#comment-5271 Sandy Kemsley Tue, 14 Nov 2006 22:34:46 +0000 http://www.column2.com/2006/11/modeling-processes-in-a-browser-with-appian/#comment-5271 Thanks for the clarification, Phil (and not forcing me to quote your email instead). James, I did hear from Phil in an earlier email that they don't support Fair Isaac (yet?). Thanks for the clarification, Phil (and not forcing me to quote your email instead).

James, I did hear from Phil in an earlier email that they don’t support Fair Isaac (yet?).

]]> By: Philip Larson http://www.column2.com/2006/11/modeling-processes-in-a-browser-with-appian/comment-page-1/#comment-5270 Philip Larson Tue, 14 Nov 2006 18:35:31 +0000 http://www.column2.com/2006/11/modeling-processes-in-a-browser-with-appian/#comment-5270 James, Sandy is right, we do ship with a separate rules repository that integrates seamlessly with the process component. Our approach to rules is threefold: 1) make it easy to create one off rules, policies and expressions for use in specific processes. 2) make it easy to create reusable rules stored in a separate rules repository for reusing across processes and applications. 3) integrate with third party rules engines like iLog and Corticon by creating Smart Nodes where users can browse rules stored in these repositories, choose one, and have them execute in the context of the process to guide process flow. I'm running out the door to a meeting so I apologize for the brevity of the explanation and for any typos. :) James,
Sandy is right, we do ship with a separate rules repository that integrates seamlessly with the process component. Our approach to rules is threefold:
1) make it easy to create one off rules, policies and expressions for use in specific processes.
2) make it easy to create reusable rules stored in a separate rules repository for reusing across processes and applications.
3) integrate with third party rules engines like iLog and Corticon by creating Smart Nodes where users can browse rules stored in these repositories, choose one, and have them execute in the context of the process to guide process flow.

I’m running out the door to a meeting so I apologize for the brevity of the explanation and for any typos. :)

]]> By: Sandy Kemsley http://www.column2.com/2006/11/modeling-processes-in-a-browser-with-appian/comment-page-1/#comment-5269 Sandy Kemsley Tue, 14 Nov 2006 03:18:50 +0000 http://www.column2.com/2006/11/modeling-processes-in-a-browser-with-appian/#comment-5269 Jason, thanks for your comment. I think that in many cases in the past, a browser-based process modeler has not been considered a "must-have" in part because there were so few of them, and no one had really focussed on the benefits that they provide. I suppose that I'm an easy convert to this camp because I've used FileNet a lot in the past, and even a Java applet through a browser is a great improvement over having to install something on the desktop. It allowed me to easily poke into the repository and look at a process design regardless of whether I was at my own desk or not. It's interesting to note that Proforma is starting to release their modeling tool in a browser-based version, although they're not fully there yet, because they see that putting the modeling tools in the hands of anyone who has the slightest reason or inclination to try it will help to promote proper process modeling -- and therefore process improvement -- throughout the organization. Although I wasn't the one driving the demo, I felt that the usability of the Appian modeler was every bit as good as that of any desktop process modeler that I've used, and better than some. Jason, thanks for your comment. I think that in many cases in the past, a browser-based process modeler has not been considered a “must-have” in part because there were so few of them, and no one had really focussed on the benefits that they provide.

I suppose that I’m an easy convert to this camp because I’ve used FileNet a lot in the past, and even a Java applet through a browser is a great improvement over having to install something on the desktop. It allowed me to easily poke into the repository and look at a process design regardless of whether I was at my own desk or not. It’s interesting to note that Proforma is starting to release their modeling tool in a browser-based version, although they’re not fully there yet, because they see that putting the modeling tools in the hands of anyone who has the slightest reason or inclination to try it will help to promote proper process modeling — and therefore process improvement — throughout the organization.

Although I wasn’t the one driving the demo, I felt that the usability of the Appian modeler was every bit as good as that of any desktop process modeler that I’ve used, and better than some.

]]>