Re: Definition of Business Processes

[bgrossman@acord.org]

I'm also new to the discussion, although I was in attendance for a portion of
the Orlando ebXML meeting.  I am whole heartedly in agreement with Andrew.  As
an active participant in EDIFACT and given that this effort is a joint one with
the UN, we really need to look harder at existing modeling efforts.  In
particular, EDIFACT has just started an OO modeling group to pilot the concept
of object models being standards.  They have at least two pilots going,
insurance and travel and leisure.  Also, I don't know much about the work of
BPAWG (Business Process Analysis Working Group) which is part of CEFACT, but
they too are working on the high level process models that cut across all
vertical industries.




Andrew Chilcott <andrew.chilcott@stpsolutions.com> on 02/11/2000 11:36:15 AM


To:   "'ebxml-bp@lists.oasis-open.org'" <ebxml-bp@lists.oasis-open.org>
cc:    (bcc: Beth Grossman/ACORD)
Subject:  Definition of Business Processes



Hi, I'm Andrew Chilcott and am new to this discussion group. I have been
monitoring the mail on definition of business processes over the last week
or so and have the following comments:-

1.   Whilst I agree that SME's need some form of generic template to
start from, I really cannot see that it is possible for a global
organization to determine a detailed process that would be globally
acceptable.
2.   There are enormous merits in defining a very basic generic framework
that all ebusiness can use. However, I would suggest that this should go no
further than defining basic structures ie. Orders, Order Confirmation,
Delivery, Invoice, Payment and the mechanism for passing Standing Data
between the parties to a transaction ie Name, Address, Tel etc etc.
3.   ebXML cannot do this in isolation - there are other organizations
working on generic XML Schema that will be in practical use before ebXML
produces a recommendation. In particular can I refer you to www.basda.org
where some 200 of the world's leading accounting and business software
houses have agreed an XML Schema.
4.   To open another discussion thread - one of the main things missing
from global ebusiness is a common identifier whereby the legal personna of
the party to a transaction can be traced and checked out with one or more
central databases. We have international standard numbers for books and
securities - should we not have some form of international standard for
unique entity identifiers. In most countries a social security number is the
most widely recognised unique identifier for an individual and a company
registration number for a limited company. In XML terms there would need to
be an element CommonIdentifier with attributes of CountryCode = ISO3166 two
digit code; IDType = Individual or Company, CommonID = Social Security
Number or Company Registration No.

andrew.chilcott@stpsolutions.com
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