Chapter 7 – Frameworks

This chapter briefly describes industry reference models, and quality, metrics, and governance frameworks to allow the reader to demonstrate awareness of a range of industry frameworks. Examples are American Productivity & Quality Center (APQC) Process Classification Framework (PCF), Supply Chain Operation Reference (SCOR) Model, Six Sigma, Balanced Scorecards, and Sarbanes-Oxley. The last topic area of OCEB Fundamental comprises frameworks on processes, quality, management, and metrics, as well as regulations. It is not the certification's goal that you know the frameworks in detail, but that you are aware of their existence, and that they can be considered or used in business process management. In your concrete project environment, there may be other frameworks that are of relevance for you. This chapter discusses frameworks and basic terms from this area, such as quality or regulation, principle, and guidelines. OCEB Fundamental comprises frameworks on processes, quality, management, and metrics, as well as regulations. In the concrete project environment, there may be other frameworks that are of relevance. Process frameworks are reference models that support the description, assessment, and optimization of business processes. They usually specify process hierarchies to classify processes. Specific process frameworks addressed in the Fundamental certification include the APQC PCF, the SCOR, and the Value Reference Model. Quality frameworks support the improvement or management of the quality of a product or service. In addition to the basic aspects, the chapter discusses the Business Process Maturity Model, the Six Sigma quality methodology, the ISO-9000 standards, and the Toyota Production System. Regulations are statutory provisions. Business processes must adhere to them or new business processes must be implemented due to regulations. Regulations addressed by OCEB Fundamentals refer to the financial industry only, but they are considered representative of further regulations from other industries. Management frameworks specify best practices, guidelines, and tools that support management in its work and monitoring tasks.