Business Control Diagram

In a business control diagram, Business Functions are used to describe the operations that take place in a specific enterprise unit.

When those Business Functions fall within the circle of influence of the enterprise unit, they are grouped together in an Area. External Agents (such as customers, suppliers, governments) are added to indicate their influence on the operations both located outside the Area. Arrows are drawn between External Agents and Business Functions to indicate what triggers the operation. The results from this operation can trigger the next operation in another business function and arrows are drawn between business functions. The arrows are called Triggers.

Further detail in the operations can be added by linking Business Processes to Business Functions using Transformation Rules. The transformation rules are created in the repository through the Rules (tgbrg7500m000) session. For more information on the creation of transformation rules, see the LN Session Help .

At the bottom of the diagram a flow represents the primary goods or money flow.

The repository is the modeling environment in which the Business Control Diagrams are defined. These business control diagrams serve as a basis on which you can create a business model(s).

Business Control Diagram graphical objects

Menu option Description
Insert -> Trigger To insert a Trigger between the other graphical objects in the diagram.
Insert -> Function To insert a business function.
Insert -> External Agent To insert External Agents such as customers, suppliers and governments that affect the Business Functions.
Insert -> Area To insert an Area to visualize related business functions.
Insert -> Flow To insert a Flow to visualize the goods flow, financial flow or information flow.
Insert -> CODP To insert a Customer Order Decoupling Point to be located on the Flow.
Insert -> Buffer To insert a Buffer, representing a queue or a stock point to be located on the Flow.
Insert -> Primary Activity To insert a Primary Activity such as receive goods or production to be located on the Flow.

Business Control Diagram Action drop-down menu

Menu option Description
Action -> Function Categories To make parts of the Business Control Diagram visible or not, based on the categories of the Business Functions.
Action -> Children To link child Business Control Diagrams to the current diagram.

Operations used in Business Control Diagram

Operation Description
Modify the Type of the Trigger Right-click the Trigger, point to Type and select one of one of these options:
  • Free (midpoints can be added)
  • Direct
  • Z-style
  • Horizontal-Vertical
  • Vertical-Horizontal
Modify the direction of the Trigger Right-click the Trigger and select Reverse direction or Bidirectional
Add a Midpoint to a Trigger Right-click the Trigger and select Add Midpoint to change the route of the Trigger. This is only possible if the Type of the Trigger is Free. You can add as many Midpoints as required.
Add or remove a Time Trigger Right-click the Business Function, select Time Trigger or Normal to switch the time trigger on or off.
Modify the Category of the Business Function/External Agent/Buffer/ Primary Activity Right-click the Business Function/external agent, select Category. The category determines the color of the business function/external agent/Buffer/Primary Activity.
View/edit the Business Process that is linked to the Business Function If a transformation rule exists for a Business Function, a business process icon is linked to this function. Double-click this icon, a list of linked business processes is shown. Click "Go to Details" in front of the appropriate process.
To modify the color of the Area/CODP Right-click the Area/CODP and select Properties. In properties change the background color.
To modify the Flow Type Right-click the Flow, point to Type and select one of these options:
  • Goods
  • Information
  • Financial
Modify the direction of the Enterprise Relationship Right-click the Enterprise Relationship and select Reverse Direction