How to Represent Time in a Business Process
Instruction: How to Represent Time in a Business Process Using Drakon Flowcharts
When modeling a business process, it is important to represent time correctly. Drakon flowcharts allow you to show pauses, the duration of actions, and the duration of groups of actions. This guide explains how to represent these aspects properly.
1. Determine what exactly needs to be shown: a pause or a duration
1.1. Do you need to show a pause between actions?
If a delay is required between actions, use the "Pause" icon.
Example: in the coffee preparation process, after boiling water, you need to wait 2 minutes before pouring it over the coffee.
In this case, insert a "Pause" icon with the text "2 minutes" between the actions "Boil water" and "Pour boiling water into the cup with ground coffee".
Pause between actions in a business process
1.2. Do you need to show the duration of an action?
If you need to indicate how long a single action takes, use the "Time" icon.
Example: the action "Bake a cake" takes 40 minutes.
Add a "Time" icon next to the action "Bake a cake" and specify "40 minutes" in the icon text.
Duration of a single action in a business process
1.3. Do you need to show the duration of multiple actions?
If you need to indicate how long a group of actions takes, use the "Group Time" icon.
Example: in the "Order Preparation" process, packaging and verification must take no more than 30 minutes.
In this case, insert a "Group Time" icon to the left of the group of actions with the text "No more than 30 minutes".
Duration of multiple actions in a business process
Conclusion
- If a pause between actions is needed → use "Pause".
- If you need to specify the duration of a single action → use "Time".
- If you need to specify the duration of multiple actions → use "Group Time".
These rules were borrowed by Business Drakon from its medical counterpart.
In medical procedures, strict adherence to timing requirements is critically important.
By following these rules, you will be able to correctly represent time in business processes using Drakon!