Enterprise patterns: PSST

Enterprise patterns: Process Set Solidity Test (PSST)

Several domain-specific frameworks and bodies-of-knowledge formalise themselves as a coherent set of related processes/value-streams/functions/services/capabilities. Examples: CoBIT, ITIL, IT4IT, eTOM, SCOR, etc.

A normal question from the #entarch viewpoint to those frameworks & bodies-of-knowledge and any process models as well is the following – how to check that a proposed set of processes/functions/services/capabilities/etc. is solid or complete (i.e. having all the necessary or appropriate parts)?

I found practical the following cross-check mapping:

1. List all the processes from the process-set in focus
2. List all the primary artefacts in the domain of the process-set in focus
3. Make a matrix – processes (rows) vs primary artefacts (columns)
4. Check that all the primary artefacts are involved in this process-set (no empty columns)
5. Check that any process uses at least one of the primary artefacts (no empty rows)

A couple of examples for which I use the IT domain with its primary artefacts: Strategy, Governance, Architecture, Capability, Technology, Programme, Project, Solution, Product and Environment.

Below is a cross-check mapping for my own collection of IT value-streams.


And, below is a cross-check mapping for a set of value-streams (based on their data flow diagram) from of the IT initiatives. As we see there are some “holes”.

If necessary, a deeper analysis can be carried out:

• Processes can be decomposed in to main activities
• Values-streams can be decomposed into their stages
• Artefacts can be presented by phases of their life cycles

Thanks,
AS