Hi K:

Thanks for backing up a focus on the unchangine business essentials in requirements analysis.

But please note:  Data Flow Diagrams are not old - they are the latest and greatest!   Requirements Analysis is about specifying behavior of a system.   What is the latest version of the BABOK?  It is a document that specifies the behavior of a system (In this case,  the system is a manual system of people performing BA tasks).   The BABOK is organized around loosely integrated input-process-output diagrams.  DFD's are tightly integrated input-process-output diagrams. 

So, I say we should focus on using the latest and greatest system behavior documentation technique that the experts in our community - the fine folks who lay claim to our certification program - acutally use.

Tony

 To give more clarification System refers to the ERP system which is designed according to the work flow. 

Also i would like to know about Gane and Sarson notation.?(can this capture both inside and outside system)

Basically my requirments while doing the AS_IS scenarios include the following

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Chalk down each Business Process in the flow diagram

Each bubble in the flow diagram should have the workflow defined

Each workflow above should mention if it happens in the ERP or outside

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Can any body give me specifi inputs. Let me know if you need more information 

Thanks 

Deepak

 Hi Tony,

Thanks for the reply.

Actually the 3 aspects which i had mentioned in the previous post was the guidelines i wanted to follow in the beginning. However, except the 3rd point(Seperating whether process inside or outside the system),  i am following the first two. 

>>But remember that your very first step in creating data flow diagrams (i.e., Ganes & Sarson) is the most critical. >>

Actually while drawing the process flow chart i did not use Gane and Sarson notation. In MS Visio i used (HOME > FLow Chart> Cross Functional Flow Chart) for depicting the process flow( In this case i m depicting an SCM flow in a small scale manufacturing unit. Right from Planning, purchase..till the despatch..to the distributors. 

 >>Resist the overwhelming temptation to first think about processes and then think about how to hook them up via data flows.>>

I could not understand the above fully. Can you please elaborate it.

Also few more clarifications But Let me explain my methodology. I am sitting with the Business and the IT team over and capturing the information.

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First is the Process Flow chart with respect to a Specific department /Process(EG: IN SCM how MRP is captured or works)

THen i explain the process flow chart

Then i attach the screen shots which pertains to the Specific Process mapped in the ERP.

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How you do feel about this.

Also i saw lots of notation- Gane & Sarson, the flow chart notation i am using, BPMN.. which is the exact one to use. according to you..Hope you understood my task and methodology. 

Thanks 

Deepak