Chosen by the
DoD As a Government Standard for BPR
About the Book
This book answers the call for a concise, comprehensive introduction to IDEF0
and its application in business process reengineering (BPR) efforts.
Here
is all the essential information about the IDEF0 method, the function analysis
portion of the Integration Definition (IDEF) Methods—its definition, basic
rules of usage (including the standard language syntax and semantics as contained
in the Federal Standard), and lessons learned from many years of application in
the real world.
The book features examples based on actual models of commercial
clients and government agencies. By studying IDEF0 models, readers learn how the
method might be applied to the various aspects of enterprise analysis or systems
analysis and what goals and benefits are reasonable to expect from its application.
IDEF0
is at the heart of the DoD's version of BPR. In the private sector, industrial
organizations that may have initially discovered IDEF through one or more government
contracts have adopted it as a method for use with their own corporate BPR efforts.
Use
this book to apply the techniques of this increasingly popular member of the IDEF
family of methods!
From the Foreword
"Clare Feldmann is one of the pioneers in the
belief that understanding processes and activities is
the key to the application of technology to problems.
This book shares with you many of his thoughts on how
to effectively reengineer. . .
"Clare's favorite technique is shown here—IDEF0—the
integrated definition language that he helped create
in the 1970's. . . .
"For those of us in Government, rapid change is
upon us. The Information Technology Management Reform
Act of 1996 now mandates that managers redesign processes
before recommending information technology investments.
. . . With IDEF0, Clare shows managers a proven way
to assure that those investments make sense. . . .
"Here you have a master who is describing his
art—and the only charge for his services is the
cost of the book. What a bargain!
"If you only have time to read one
book on the subject, this is it. Enjoy."
—John V. Tieso
Three Major Elements
of the Method
The concepts are at the foundation of IDEF0,
and they preserve the logical sense and intention of the model. These concepts
answer why one approach is used over another in the application of IDEF0, and
they provide the experienced analyst with the rationale for when it may be necessary
to bend the rules.
The language of IDEF0 is the analyst's
means of describing the activities of an enterprise to other analysts, readers,
enterprise management and staff, and others. The language is written in graphical
box-and-arrow notation on diagram forms that are structured to form IDEF0 models.
The pragmatics of IDEF0 provide the engineering procedures
and the do's and don'ts for the use of IDEF0. In many cases, the pragmatics are
so closely tied to the concepts and language that they are inseparable, and analysts
who have attempted to use IDEF0 without employing the pragmatics have typically
been unsuccessful. The most common misuses of IDEF0 are illustrated to show the
kinds of problems that can occur if the pragmatics are not followed.
Reviews
"This book is an explanation of the IDEF0 syntax and structure
and how to apply it to business operations. No previous experience is necessary,
the diagrams are largely self-explanatory and what little extra explanation that
is needed is provided. . . . I recommend that you read this book if you are currently
in the process of altering your business practices."
—Charles
Ashbacher posted on Amazon.com
"This book
provides an excelent introduction to using IDEF0, with many illustrations. Anybody
familiar with functional decomposition-oriented methods should be able to learn
it quickly. . . . The writing is clear and easy to follow."
—W.S.
Hoffman Computing Reviews
"The author is clearly
writing from experience. . . . His experiences come through in the text."
—Elliot
Chikofsky Progress Software Corp.
"Having applied the method for more than twenty
years to real problems in a consulting and training
capacity, I have compiled this do's and don'ts guide
to identify the ways the method has been misused
and to identify and correct these misuses. . . .
"The material presented here is for three
classes of participant: people who wish to explore
the concepts and application potential of IDEF0
for enterprise reengineering; people who wish to
determine how IDEF0 might be helpful to them in
their systems analysis efforts; people who have
been introduced to IDEF0 concepts, and who wish
to understand the theory behind the concepts so
that they can use it more effectively."
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please call (800) 342-6657 or (212) 620-4053, weekdays, 9am to 6pm. Alternatively,
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DORSET HOUSE PUBLISHING CO., INC.
353 West 12th Street New York, New York 10014 USA
1-800-DH-BOOKSor 212-620-4053, fax 212-727-1044
