Template Type: Symbols

Functionality that the Business Object executes upon request from other System Operations or other systems

Technology refers to the systems, tools, and platforms that are used to support and facilitate activities or processes. Technology can be represented in a variety of diagrams, for example, in a customer journey map, technology might refer to the systems and platforms used by customers to interact with a company, such as a website, mobile app, or chatbot, while in a process map, technology might refer to the systems used to automate and optimize different stages of a process, such as workflow management software or artificial intelligence tools.

A technology collaboration specifies which nodes cooperate to perform some task. The collaborative behavior, including, for example, the communication pattern of these nodes, is modeled by a technology interaction. A technology collaboration typically models a logical or temporary collaboration of nodes, and does not exist as a separate entity in the enterprise.

Technology collaboration is a specialization of node, and aggregates two or more (cooperating) nodes. A technology collaboration is an active structure element that may be assigned to one or more technology interactions or other technology internal behavior elements, which model the associated behavior. A technology interface may serve a technology collaboration, and a technology collaboration may be composed of technology interfaces. The name of a technology collaboration should preferably be a noun.

Technology functions and other technology behavior may be triggered or interrupted by a technology event. Also, technology functions may raise events that trigger other infrastructure behavior. Unlike processes, functions, and interactions, an event is instantaneous: it does not have duration. Events may originate from the environment of the organization, but also internal events may occur generated by, for example, other devices within the organization.

A technology event may have a time attribute that denotes the moment or moments at which the event happens. For example, this can be used to model time schedules; e.g., to model an event that triggers a recurring infrastructure function such as making a daily backup.

A technology event may trigger or be triggered (raised) by a technology function, process, or interaction. A technology event may access a data object and may be composed of other technology events. The name of a technology event should preferably be a verb in the perfect tense; e.g., “message received”.

A technology function describes the internal behavior of a node; for the user of a node that performs a technology function, this function is invisible. If its behavior is exposed externally, this is done through one or more technology services. A technology function abstracts from the way it is implemented. Only the necessary behavior is specified.

A technology function may realize technology services. Technology services of other technology functions may serve technology functions. A technology function may access technology objects. A node may be assigned to a technology function (which means that the node performs the technology function). The name of a technology function should preferably be a verb ending with “ing”.

A technology interface specifies how the technology services of a node can be accessed by other nodes. A technology interface exposes a technology service to the environment. The same service may be exposed through different interfaces.

In a sense, a technology interface specifies a kind of contract that a component realizing this interface must fulfill. This may include, for example, parameters, protocols used, pre- and post conditions, and data formats.

A technology interface may be part of a node through composition (not shown in the standard notation), which means that these interfaces are provided by that node, and can serve other nodes. A technology interface can be assigned to a technology service, to expose that service to the environment.
The name of a technology interface should preferably be a noun.

A technology process describes internal behavior of a node; for the user of that node, this process is invisible. If its behavior is exposed externally, this is done through one or more technology services. A technology process abstracts from the way it is implemented. Only the necessary behavior is specified. It can use technology objects as input and use or transform these to produce other technology objects as output.

A technology process may realize technology services. Other technology services may serve (be used by) a technology process. A technology process may access technology objects. A node may be assigned to a technology process, which means that this node performs the process. The name of a technology process should clearly identify a series of technology behaviors; e.g., “System boot sequence” or “Replicate database”.

A technology service exposes the functionality of a node to its environment. This functionality is accessed through one or more technology interfaces. It may require, use, and produce artifacts.
A technology service should be meaningful from the point of view of the environment; it should provide a unit of behavior that is, in itself, useful to its users, such as application components and nodes.
Typical technology services may, for example, include messaging, storage, naming, and directory services. It may access artifacts; e.g., a file containing a message.
A technology service may serve application components or nodes. A technology service is realized by a technology function or process. A technology service is exposed by a node by assigning technology interfaces to it. A technology service may access artifacts. A technology service may consist of sub-services.
The name of a technology service should preferably be a verb ending with “ing”; e.g., “messaging”. Also, a name explicitly containing the word “service” may be used.

The Text Annotation template in QualiWare permits the user to add an object where any amount of text can be included on the diagram to support what is going on with one Activity, or other BPMN based template. The Text field on the Text Annotation tab in the Object Editor is where the text is entered and upon saving and closing the object editor, the text will appear on the diagram within the Text Annotation object. The Text Annotation is then linked to the applicable Activity or other object using the Association symbol/connector.