This document discusses complexity in business processes through examples related to purchasing a cell phone. It begins by introducing frameworks for understanding architecture and complexity, such as the Zachman Framework. It then provides three examples of increasing complexity: problems of simplicity with limited interactions; problems of disorganized complexity with many global variables; and problems of organized complexity which requires engineering interrelationships before modeling is possible. The goal is to illustrate how complexity arises from the arrangement and interactions of system components.

1. Complexity in
Business
Processes
• Context: Set up a view of the current level of complexity
involved with business process architecture
• The following documents will be helpful to understand
my suggestion
• Zachman Framework or Structure -
https://www.zachman.com/about-the-zachman-
framework
• Warren Weavers Science and Complexity
https://www.jstor.org/stable/27826254?seq=1#page_sca
n_tab_contents
• Brad Mercer’s presentation on Architecting
https://www.slideshare.net/bradmercer/090501-
thoughts-on-architecting-v43
• IEEE 42010 - 2011

2. Business Process Statement
• Person researches cell phone types and visits a store to buy a cell
phone. At the store she or he pays to buy the cell phone. The phone is
purchased, unlocked, fitted with a SIM card and made ready for use.
Cell Phone
Research
Travel to
Store
Cell Phone
Test
Cell Phone
Purchase
Cell Phone
Activation
Cell Phone
Use
Buyer Buyer Buyer Sales
Agent
Techni
cian
Buyer

3. What is Architecture & Architecting
• Architecture n.- an intrinsic quality or property of a system consisting
of the arrangement and interrelationships, both static and dynamic,
among its components and their externally visible properties; the
structure or form of a system.
• Architecting employs synthesis of form to iteratively compose
separate elements to form a coherent whole, or a representation of a
coherent whole, that can serve as an “initial point” for system
development.
Both from presentation of Brad Mercer

4. From John Zachman Website
“Zachman Framework”
can be used to identify
the elements of any
system. Once the
elements have been
identified their
relationship can be
studied. Interactions
between the elements is
driver of “complexity”.
(these elements can be
internal or external to
the system)
Business Variables

5. Why How What Who Where When
Why
How
What
Who
Where
When
Relationship between
variables defines
business processes. The
complexity of the
business landscape is
defined by the
interaction between the
variables .
How How How
Who Who Who
Business Process Variable Interaction
Who Where
Who Who
How
What
CRUD
Data Interaction
RACI
RACI – Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, and Informed CRUD – create, read, update, and delete

6. The 3 headers in next 3 slides
• Problems of Simplicity
• Problems of disorganized complexity
• Problems of organized complexity
From Warren Weavers Paper “Science and Complexity”

7. Problems of Simplicity
The current methods of architecting processes are typically problems of simplicity :
There are very limited interactions and dependencies. All dependencies are linear or
binary in nature. (If, then logic). Typically answer “how” and “who”
Cell Phone
Research
Travel to
Store
Cell Phone
Test
Cell Phone
Purchase
Cell Phone
Activation
Cell Phone
Use
Buyer Buyer Buyer Sales
Agent
Techni
cian
Buyer
Buyer
Sales
Agent
Techni
cian
Buyer
Possible Interactions Techni
cian
Buyer
Sales
Agent

8. Problems of disorganized complexity
A lot of people
around the whole
world is doing
research on
purchase of cell
phone
People are
contacting
different carriers,
going to shops and
using internet to
identify phones
There are lot of
phone
specification.
There are lot of
websites and
stores
Lot of phone
manufacturing
with lots of models
with various
comm. standards.
There are many
shop with SIM
cards of various
types
Many people are
using cell phone
for phone calls,
browsing, text,
camera, music etc.
Compared to most physical complex systems like room
full of gas molecules or human DNA this is pretty simple.

9. Problems of organized complexity
Specific region in
US has people who
want to buy cell
phone
There are limited cell phone
carriers in their region with
very specific standards
There are limited cell phone
manufacturers with specific
models which can be used.
Cell phone companies work with
carriers to follow their standardsThey research through
internet or physical stores
Some users get suggestions
from their carriers
Users can use
their cell
phones in
their regions

10. Problems of organized complexity
• This case will require certain engineering activity before we can
architect or model it as for example:
• Understanding underlying communication standards offered by
carriers.
• Capability of phones to use such standards.
• SIM card standards
• Activation method for phones
• ……..

11. The 3 examples of complexity
• Problems of Simplicity : 2 agent interactions, 2 or 3 decision points
(phone type, model, price) Easy to model
• Problems of disorganized complexity: “n” number of agents, few
hundred carriers, 30 phone companies, few thousand regions, various
prices and taxes, various standards. Very difficult to model
• Problems of organized complexity: About 5 carriers, 3 standards,
about 8 phone companies with about a hundred phone models, few
thousand consumers everyday. (limited channelized interaction).
Architecting and modeling this process can be possible only when it is
“engineered” to certain degree.