VDML for Business Architects: Part 11 of 11, Business Transformation Extension

Please see the post for VDML for Business Architects: Part 1 of 11, for the introduction to this series of posts.  This part describes the extension of VDML to support business transformation planning and management.

1.    Shared future business design

Failure to achieve and maintain a shared understanding of a business transformation is a major cause of failure to achieve expectations.  VDML supports development of a consistent business design that ensures a clear understanding of intent and requirements across affected organizational units.

2.    Incremental transformation phases (proposed VDML extension)

Incremental transformation phases are represented as VDML model scenarios with the expectation that each scenario represents a viable operating model as an interim step in the transformation.  Transformation work is identified based on the changes from one phase scenario to the next.

3.    Transformation details (proposed VDML extension)

Transformation requirements must be evaluated based on the input/output requirements of the changed capabilities. Changed capabilities must be analyzed to determine the requirements for other source or recipient capability methods.

4.    Transformation progress oversight (proposed VDML extension)

Oversight of transformation progress is supported by key objectives. Of primary interest are objectives to achieve the next phase of the transformation plan.  Objectives identify the responsible manager and persons with an interest in progress on the objective.

5.    Disruption impact/propagation analysis (proposed VDML extension)

Changes required to capability methods, resources and organizations will have impact on related capability methods and organizations linked through deliverable flows and delegations.  These consequential changes must also be identified in the transformation plan for each phase.

6.    Objective dependencies based on flows and transformation phases (proposed VDML extension)

The transformation plan identifies changes by phase, and the associated scenarios determine dependencies and responsibilities affected by those changes.  Consequently, objectives for each phase can be generated for the required changes along with dependencies between objectives based on the requirements for completion of each phase of the transformation plan and dependencies based on deliverable flows within the phase.