Chapter 4: The modeling of processes

I. Utilization of the Merise method

A. General presentation

MERISE -> study and realization method for enterprise systems, design method
information system and software project development
Provides complete separation of data and processes
Data: static aspect / Processing: dynamic aspect
Approach in 3 axes -> in 3 cycles
o1- life cycle -> breaking down the development process into a certain number of steps
o2- decision cycle -> linked to the life cycle as it defines the results to be produced at the end of each stage an
deadlines imperatives
o3- abstraction cycle -> is based on perception at 3 levels of the company to take into account the fact
that IT maintenance does not necessarily require questioning the entire system
models and depending on the type of problem to be solved, one can intervene at 3 levels:
1) Conceptual level -> definition of the business objectives described by management rules.
répond aux 2 questons : Quoi ? et Pourquoi ?
2) Organizational level (or logical level) -> take into account the state of the art technology
(advanced) and the actors and their constraints > deduce the organization that needs to be implemented
To achieve the targeted objectives: When? Who? and Where?
3) Physical level (or operational level) -> implement the technical tools of
Software development: How to do it?
Each of the 3 levels will correspond to either 2 or 3 models:
A data model, processing, flow for levels 1 and 2
A data model, processing for level 3

Conceptual Level
Conceptual level 1 -> conceptual model of flow: MCF
Conceptual level 2 -> conceptual data model: CDM
Conceptual level 3 -> conceptual processing model: CPM

Organizational Level
Organizational level 1 -> flow organizational model: MOF
Organizational level 2 -> logical data model: LDM
Organizational level 3 -> organizational processing model: MOT

Physical level
Physical level 1 -> physical data model: PDM
Physical level 2 -> operational processing model: MOPT

Order of realization of the models:

We start by creating the MCF and, in parallel, a share of the raw MCD and on the other hand the MCT. We will then continue
compare the raw conceptual data model (MCD) with the object model (MOT) to verify if there are no unnecessary data in the treatments in the MCD
or conversely, if it will not lack essential data.
When the modifications have been made, we obtain the validated MCD, then we develop the MLD and in parallel the
MPD and the MOPT.

In the MERISE method: describing treatment means describing the processes. This description involves the realization of
MCF, of the MCT and of the MOT.

B. The conceptual flow model -> MCF

Model allowing to highlight the exchanges between a studied management domain and stakeholders.
externes et/ou des autres domaines de l’entreprise (ou domaine connexe).
Develops at multiple levels:
0) MCF de niveau 0 = modèle de contexte
Because he is not interested at all in what is happening inside the studied field
In this domain, external actors are represented by oval shapes and the studied domain
as well as related areas by rectangular shapes
For the flows -> does not differentiate between information flows and physical flows -> we still use
2 types of flows: that which relates to the studied domain represented by solid arrows and that which does not.
do not touch the external actors and/or related domain represented by a dotted line.

Exercise 3:

Regulation
Management of the
Client Invoice invoicing
Purchase order
Delivered products
Good delivery
Delivery completed

Delivery management

Level 1 MCF
Decompose the studied domain into a number of activities
We then connect each of the flows to one of the activities and potentially add additional flows.
interns between activities
Activity -> rectangular shape
 C. The conceptual model of processing
The processes describe the activities to be carried out on the data to obtain the expected results.
the company.
They are only the active translation of the management rules that make up the company's activity.
An order is only fulfilled if the quantity in stock is greater than or equal to the quantity.
requested. This rule translates into 4 actions:
Enter the requested quantity
2- Compare the ordered quantity with the quantity in stock
3- If the quantity ordered is greater than the quantity in stock, then the order is rejected.
If the ordered quantity is less than or equal to the quantity in stock, then we record the order.
The MCT is the model that allows representing all the actions taken by the company to achieve these.
objectfs.

1) The basic concepts

1erconcept -> le processus
It is a set of treatments whose beginning and end are stable and independent of choices.
organizational
2 the operation
eme

A process involves a significant number of features that we group into larger sets.
elementary operations that we qualify as operations. Each operation constitutes a sequence of actions executed
without interruption. An operation is triggered to respond to a request for one/multiple
elements and produce one/multiple results conditioned by [...]
3 concept -> l’évènement
th

The event is a new fact for the information system which will react with: several
repeated actions can be internal, external, or temporal.
4ème concept -> la synchronisaton
It is a condition for executing an operation, its symbol always appears before an operation.
but it only includes elements when multiple events trigger the initiation of
the operation.
 When there are several triggering events, the synchronization indicates how the event
they combine with each other, each event is assigned a letter and we express the operations.
5ththe results
An operation can generate one or several results that are potentially produced based on
qualified emission rules. If there are no emission rules, the label is entered in place.
always.

2) The construction rules of the MCT

We establish the MCT in the exact order in which the treatments must be carried out; other than that, there is
simply 3 rules for model development:
1. An operation is an uninterrupted sequence of treatments, which means that any interruption of a
A certain duration between two actions necessarily leads to a segmentation of the operation.
Example: a student wishing to be admitted to a master's program must submit their application by the 14th at the latest.
June, file studied on the 15th by a commission to define information system yes/no for the student
is admitted.

Deposit
file 14

OP1
Reception folder
Always

File
examinable 15 juin
(B)

A and B

OP2
Exam file
Sufficient file Insufficient file

Student Student
Admission not admitted

The treatments of an operation must not be interrupted by the intervention of an actor.

External information systems are the case where information is segmented.
Example: When a customer drops off a computer equipment at a repair company, they are
establish a quote, if okay with the quote it must be signed -> triggers the editing of a repair sheet.
 3. In an operation, one cannot find an intermediary result that conditions the continuation of the
progress of the actions, if this is the case we must break down the operation -> principle of breaking down
operations ratonnel according to which an operation cannot contain treatments of nature
different.
Example: Every summer, a town hall organizes camps for the children of the municipality. The parents
can enroll a child after providing a tax notice and a pay stub. When
In this case, the amount due is calculated based on the family's income.
It is impossible for the same event to trigger two distinct operations alone:
Either the 2 operations could be grouped.
So it is [...] triggering event
Normally, an internal event cannot trigger an operation on its own.

Exercise 5:

The text

OP1
Stock verification

Sufficient stock Insufficient stock

Order placed at Beginning of the week

No order to
supplier (A) (B)
passer
 A and B

OP2
Verification of pending order

Deadline not exceeded

Deadline exceeded and reminder Deadline exceeded and
not make follow-up carried out

Nothing to do Order
Reminder sent exceptional
to the supplier carried out

Order
canceled

The analytical MCT

It highlights the interactions that exist between the treatments carried out and the data on
which they are carried out. This interaction is materialized by the inscription on the right side of the tables operation
data that is used in the operation with an indication via arrows of the way in which
they are used.

Table 1 : créaton de données

Table 2: Data Consultation
Table 3 : Data update
X Table 4: Data Suppression

D. The organizational model of treatments

The MCT allows for the description of all treatments to be carried out but does not take into account the organization.
set up for this. It is the WORD that will allow to describe this necessary organization and this in 3
levels:
Impact of treatments at the workplace of the company in order to answer the question: By whom
How are the treatments done?
At the level of the type of automation of processes to answer the question: How are they made
treatments?
And regarding the period of implementation of the treatments to answer the question when are they done
treatments?
 1) The concepts
1herWorkstation concept -> it is a unit of activity that includes human resources and
Materials necessary for the realization of this activity. This cell conducts its activity in a well-defined place.
determined, it sometimes corresponds to a well-identified individual and sometimes to an organizational entity or
sometimes even still to a machine.
2 Concept : type de traitement -> définit le degré d’automatsaton d’un traitement sachant qu’il y en a 3
th

possibilities:
o1ermanual: a process in which computing is not used at all
o2th-> interactf: all processes where a computer is used but on the condition that there is a
dialogue man-machine via the keyboard and mouse either to enter new data or to
query the database
o3 -> automatic: these are collective processes, referred to as batch processing or
th

batch processing, which is generally carried out in deferred mode without any human intervention, except
possibly the triggering, based on data already contained in the system
information. This type of processing always corresponds to a workstation that is named
computer
3thConcept: realization procedure -> It corresponds to the temporal conditions for the realization of a
activity. It can either be a time period or a frequency
4thConcept: the functional procedure -> It corresponds to a set of actions performed without
interruption by the same workstation during a well-defined period and with means of
treatments of a single type. It is represented exactly in the same way as an MCT operation,
the numbering simply starts with PF (functional procedure). The WORD will therefore correspond to a
sequence of functional procedures that will be represented in a table. In this table there is
always a first column corresponding to the period of realization and then there are as many columns
What workstations are involved in the process and finally there is always a type of processing column.
Each functional procedure must be placed in the column corresponding to the workstation.
that he executes. It must correspond to a period and a type of treatment. A workstation
It is something that is internal to the organization for which we are making the model.
Cf. photo: shape of the WORD

2) The transition from MCT to MOT

To translate an operation from the MCT to the MOT, there are 3 possibilities:
The operation of the MCT translates into a single functional procedure, this is the most frequent case that
it is driven by the fact that all the concerned actions are carried out by the same workstation without
that some of them are done in deferred mode and with only one type of treatment.
An operation of the MCT can be divided into several functional procedures in the MOT. This
can be explained by the fact that several positions are involved in its progression or by the fact
that certain treatments are deferred and carried out automatically. This can also be
driven by the fact that manual treatments coexist with interactive treatments.
(cf. EXERCISE 9)
In rare cases, several operations can be grouped into a single functional procedure.
This means that we will group several events that concern the same workstation and
the operations that go with it because one of the operations corresponds to treatments
extremely light. (see EXERCISE 10)

II. Utilization of UML for the modeling of processes

It is an object-oriented method that allows representing processes using a number of

a diagram based on the principle that a single representation is too subjective and that it is therefore necessary to
proposer plusieurs vues d’un même processus. Chaque vue correspond soit à un soit à plusieurs diagrammes. Il
There are static diagrams whose purpose is to physically represent the system and diagrams.
dynamics that allow for showing the functioning of the system.
 A. The use case diagram

Its purpose is to show all the possibilities of interaction between the system and actors; It
therefore determine all the functionalities that the system will have to provide. We first represent some
use case.
A use case is represented in an oval shape; it corresponds to a need for interaction with the
system from the user's perspective. We also represent actors that correspond to
typical users who will always have the same behavior with respect to the use case. The same
An individual can correspond to several different actors depending on the role they will play in relation to the system.
We identify 2 types of actors:
the physical person that we represent via a stickman
Organizational roles of computers that are represented in a rectangular form.
We also have interactions that are represented as a line indicating that the actor participates in
the use.

Example: We consider a bank's ATM that allows cash withdrawals, cash deposits, and the
Consultation of account information.

Withdraw money

Cardholder
Deposit money

Consult
informations
of the account
Bank client

(cf. EXERCISE 12)

It is possible to define relationships between use cases that may eventually allow for their reuse.
there are 3 different relationships:

- The extension relationship, a use case A is a use case B if case A can be executed in
Course of the execution of B. It is therefore an optional relationship that often only occurs under a certain
condition. It is represented by a dotted arrow labeled 'extend' that goes from the case
extended towards the departure cases;

Example: In the case of a cash withdrawal, there is a balance verification if the withdrawal exceeds €30.
 If amount > 30 €

Withdraw money
extend

Cardholder
Check the balance Deposit money

Consult
informations
of the account

- The inclusion relationship. We say that an use case A includes a use case B if the execution of A leads to
automatically the execution of B. This relationship is represented by a dotted arrow on which is
inscribed "include" and oriented from the including case to the included case.
-
-
- If amount > 30 €
-
- Withdraw money
extend
-
Check the balance
Cardholder

- Deposit money

includ include

Consult
Identify include information
of the account

- Relation of generalization. We say that case A is a generalization of case B if B is a particular case of A.

A. We use a dotted arrow on which nothing is written that goes from the particular case to the general case.

Example: the kiosk allows you to withdraw euros and dollars.

Retrieving dollar
Return Euro

If amount > 30 €

-
-
extend Withdraw money
- balance
Check the
Cardholder

- Deposit money
include

include
Consult
To identify information
include of the account
 B. The sequence diagram

Its purpose is to represent the interactions between objects involved in a use case by indicating the
Chronology of exchanges. All the actors identified in relation to a CU will therefore be found in the diagram.
of sequence corresponding to this CU. A sequence diagram is read from top to bottom, it formalizes all exchanges
qualified messages that occur between actors or objects. There are synchronous messages for which the sender
await the receiver's response to continue its actions. And asynchronous messages for which the sender
continues its actions without waiting for a response, which means that the recipient can reply at any time or then
ignore the message. Messages can sometimes be reflexive if they concern the same actor or
the same object. The order of sending a message is determined based on its position on the vertical axis of the diagram
that is referred to as a lifeline. The diagram also represents through rectangular shapes the
period of activity of different objects or different actors.

(Cf. EXERCISE 15)

C. Activity diagram

Allows for the representation of activities that describe the execution of functionality or behavior, each activity
is composed of a certain number of actions that we will represent sequentially between a start and
une/plusieurs fins et en les reliant par des transitons. A l’issue d’une acton il est possible qu’il y ai plusieurs choix
possible, in this hypothesis we use a decision. It may happen that an action is only possible when
several other actions are completed and we formalize this through a synchronization bar. We use
this same synchronization bar to express the fact that the end of one action triggers several others. There
Two possible forms for this activity diagram: in its simplest form, only the actions are represented.
carried out by the organization for which we are making the diagram, and in its most complete form that we qualify as
activity diagram with lane identifies all the actors involved in the process whether internal or
external and we represent all their respective activities.

Start

Acton

Transiton

Decision

Synchronization

End