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Object: Data object Input / Output, Adjacent process

SmartProcess allows you to model process interactions to show how information is processed across different processes. Different modeling objects are available for this purpose: Data object Input / O…

Dennis Reichle
Updated by Dennis Reichle
Table of Contents

SmartProcess allows you to model process interactions to show how information is processed across different processes.

Different modeling objects are available for this purpose:

Data object Input / Output

Adjacent process

Data object Input / Output

Data objects are used when during the execution of a task in a process an output is generated which is reused and processed further as input in one or more processes.

Data objects belong to the artifacts. The options for creating and linking artifacts in the process model are described in the article for IT systems and resources.

As an additional option, a separate tab is available for inputs and outputs in the symbol menu of the Process designer, with which data objects already created can be searched and reused.

A data object can represent something material (e.g. production material) as well as something immaterial (e.g. ideas / concepts) or data (e.g. e-mails, information from a database).

In the example, in the process 'Production', production materials and an assembly instruction are used as input to perform the task 'Prepare production'. In the subsequent task 'Produce machine' the output is the finished produced machine. In another process, 'Shipping', the created machine is used as input for the step 'Package goods'.

In contrast to all other artifacts, the direction in which the association link is modeled is decisive for data objects:
- Connector from the data object to the task -> data object is marked as input
- Connector from the task to the data object -> data object is marked as output
The link between a data object and a task is displayed in the list actions beneath the process as well as in the process description.

Double-clicking on the data object opens its properties.

There you can see the interaction between the processes in the area 'Used in process'. It is listed exactly in which process the data object results as output from which task and is used in other processes as input for a specific task.

In addition, the name and description of the data object can be adjusted here and a hyperlink can be deposited, which the viewer can click on in the read-only view.

Furthermore, the button <Extras> allows you to create user-defined fields to enter any additional information for the data objects in the system.

The button <Add document> allows you to add one or more file attachments to the data object.

Reporting of interactions

In the Reporting menu, all data objects of the system including their usage can be displayed in order to get a complete overview of all inputs and outputs used in the company.

When SmartProcess is installed, a corresponding saved report is stored in your system.

Adjacent process

The 'Adjacent Process' object can be used to indicate that a process is preceded and/or followed by other processes.

In this way, for example, the value chain of a company can be represented, which consists of several consecutive processes.

The adjacent process can also be used in combination with data objects.
To use an adjacent process, the affected process must already have been created in SmartProcess (in the example Work Scheduling and Shipping)

If adjacent processes are modelled, the user can click through from one process to the next adjacent process.

How did we do?

Object: Artifacts IT System, Resource

Object: Artifacts KPI, Risk, Control, Opportunity

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