Business Process Framework

The Business Process Framework is a reference framework or model for categorizing all the business activities that a service provider will use. It is NOT a service provider business model. In other words, it does not address the strategic issues or questions of who a service provider’s target customers should be, what market segments the service provider should serve, what are a service provider’s vision, mission, etc. A business process framework is one part of the strategic business model and plan for a service provider. <br/>The Business Process Framework is better regarded as a framework, rather than a business process model, since its aim is to categorize the process elements and business activities so that these can then be combined in many ways, to implement end-to-end business processes (e.g., fulfillment, assurance, billing) which deliver value for the customer and the service provider. Key concepts that form the basis for the Business Process Framework are outlined in Annex A, Business Process Framework Concepts, and readers that are not familiar with the Business Process Framework may wish to gain an initial view of these concepts, to provide context before reading the main document.<br/>Previous Business Process Framework (eTOM) Releases have established the Business Process Framework as TM Forum member-approved, with global agreement from the highest conceptual level downwards, and has gone on to take account of real-world experience in applying the Business Process Framework, and to incorporate new detail in process decompositions, flows and business-to-business interaction.<br/>Beyond this, the Business Process Framework work has potential to develop further, in areas such as further lower-level process decompositions and flows, applications in specific areas of business, guidelines and assistance in using the Business Process Framework, cost and performance issues associated with the processes, etc. In addition, ongoing feedback from the industry, together with its linkage with the wider ODF program, can be used to guide future priorities for continuing work.<br/>It should be noted that the development of a full process framework is a significant undertaking, and the work must be phased over time based on member process priorities and member resource availability. This effect is visible in Business Process Framework’s history, from the early work on a business process map that carried through to the Business Process Framework itself, broadening along the way to a total enterprise framework and the current Release.<br/>