Business Process

Framework (eTOM)

Addendum P: A Business Process Framework

Primer

Release 8.1
GB921 Addendum P
Version 4.9

March, 2010

© TM Forum 2010
Business Process Framework

Notice

No recipient of this document shall in any way interpret this document as

representing a position or agreement of TM Forum or its members. This document is
a draft working document of TM Forum and is provided solely for comments and
evaluation. It is not a Forum Approved Document and is solely circulated for the
purposes of assisting TM Forum in the preparation of a final document in furtherance
of the aims and mission of TM Forum.
Although it is a copyrighted document of TM Forum:
• Members of TM Forum are only granted the limited copyright waiver to
distribute this document within their companies and may not make paper or
electronic copies for distribution outside of their companies.
• Non-members of the TM Forum are not permitted to make copies (paper or
electronic) of this draft document other than for their internal use for the sole
purpose of making comments thereon directly to TM Forum.
• If this document forms part of a supply of information in support of an Industry
Group Liaison relationship, the document may only be used as part of the
work identified in the Liaison and may not be used or further distributed for
any other purposes
Any use of this document by the recipient, other than as set forth specifically herein,
is at its own risk, and under no circumstances will TM Forum be liable for direct or
indirect damages or any costs or losses resulting from the use of this document by
the recipient.
This document is governed, and all recipients shall be bound, by all of the terms and
conditions of the Agreement on Intellectual Property Rights between TM Forum and
its members (http://www.tmforum.org/IPRAgreement/2211/home.html) and may
involve a claim of patent rights by one or more TM Forum members or by non-
members of TM Forum.

Direct inquiries to the TM Forum office:

240 Headquarters Plaza,

East Tower – 10th Floor,
Morristown, NJ 07960 USA
Tel No. +1 973 944 5100
Fax No. +1 973 944 5110
TM Forum Web Page: www.tmforum.org

GB921 Addendum P, Version 4.9  TM Forum 2010 Page 2 of 31

Business Process Framework

Table of Contents

NOTICE..................................................................................................................................................2
TABLE OF CONTENTS.......................................................................................................................3
LIST OF FIGURES ..............................................................................................................................4
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY....................................................................................................................5
1. WHAT IS BUSINESS PROCESS FRAMEWORK?.......................................................................6
2. WHERE DID THE BUSINESS PROCESS FRAMEWORK COME FROM?............................8
3. HOW DOES THE BUSINESS PROCESS FRAMEWORK WORK?........................................10
3.1 PROCESS DECOMPOSITIONS......................................................................................................10
3.2 PROCESS FLOWS.......................................................................................................................17
4. WHY USE THE BUSINESS PROCESS FRAMEWORK?..........................................................23
5. WHEN CAN THE BUSINESS PROCESS FRAMEWORK HELP?..........................................24
6. WHO IS USING THE BUSINESS PROCESS FRAMEWORK?................................................25
7. SOME IDEAS ON USING THE BUSINESS PROCESS FRAMEWORK.................................26
8. ADMINISTRATIVE APPENDIX...................................................................................................30
8.1 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.............................................................................................................30
8.2 DOCUMENT HISTORY...............................................................................................................30

GB921 Addendum P, Version 4.9  TM Forum 2010 Page 3 of 31

Business Process Framework

List of Figures

FIGURE 0: PROCESS DECOMPOSITION......................................................................................10

FIGURE 1: BUSINESS PROCESS FRAMEWORK (ETOM).........................................................12
FIGURE 2: THE BUSINESS PROCESS FRAMEWORK OPERATIONS (OPS) PROCESSES.13
FIGURE 3: LEVEL 2 OPERATIONS (OPS) PROCESSES.............................................................14
FIGURE 5: THE BUSINESS PROCESS FRAMEWORK STRATEGY, INFRASTRUCTURE &
PRODUCT (SIP) PROCESSES............................................................................................................15
FIGURE 6: LEVEL 2 STRATEGY, INFRASTRUCTURE & PRODUCT (SIP) PROCESSES. .16
FIGURE 7: THE BUSINESS PROCESS FRAMEWORK ENTERPRISE MANAGEMENT (EM)
PROCESSES..........................................................................................................................................17
FIGURE 8: PROCESS FLOW (PARTIAL EXAMPLE ONLY)......................................................18
FIGURE 9: GENERAL INTERACTION DIAGRAM FOR DSL FULFILLMENT......................19
FIGURE 10: PROCESS INTERACTION FLOW DIAGRAM FOR DSL FULFILLMENT (PRE-
SALES)....................................................................................................................................................19
FIGURE 11: PROCESS INTERACTION FLOW DIAGRAM FOR DSL FULFILLMENT
(ORDERING).........................................................................................................................................21
FIGURE 12: PROCESS DYNAMICS FLOW DIAGRAM FOR DSL FULFILLMENT
(ORDERING).........................................................................................................................................22

GB921 Addendum P, Version 4.9  TM Forum 2010 Page 4 of 31

Business Process Framework

Executive Summary

This document is an Addendum to the Business Process Framework,

(GB921) It assists new readers and users of Business Process
Framework by providing an introductory view of some of the concepts,
goals and structure of the Business Process Framework work.
It should be read in conjunction with the main GB921 document, and other
Addenda (see GB921 Concepts and Principles for details).

GB921 Addendum P, Version 4.9  TM Forum 2010 Page 5 of 31

Business Process Framework

1. What is Business Process Framework?

The Information, Communications and Entertainment services industry is

facing unprecedented churn and the struggle to remain profitable in the
face of more competition, higher customer expectations, falling market
share and growing price pressures. The industry has a need to clearly
define and understand the business processes involved in order to tackle
these issues. It also needs to reach a consensus on the common process
view for equipment suppliers, applications builders and integrators to build
management systems by combining third party and in-house
developments.
The Business Process Framework (also known as the eTOM) is an
ongoing TM Forum initiative to deliver a business process model or
framework for use by Information, Communications and Entertainment
services industry. The goal is to set a vision for the industry to enable it to
compete successfully through the implementation of business process-
driven approaches to managing the enterprise. This includes ensuring
integration among all vital enterprise support systems concerned with
service delivery and support.
The focus of the Business Process Framework is on the business
processes used by service providers, the linkages between these
processes, the identification of interfaces, and the use of customer,
service, resource, supplier/partner and other information by multiple
processes. The TM Forum Business Process Framework is a reference
framework for categorizing all the business activities that a service
provider will use, in a structured manner that allows these to be addressed
at various levels of detail.. For such companies, it serves as the blueprint
for process direction and provides a neutral reference point for internal
process reengineering needs, partnerships, alliances, and general
working agreements with other providers. For suppliers, the Business
Process Framework outlines potential boundaries of software components
to align with the customers' needs and highlights the required functions,
inputs, and outputs that must be supported by products.
A particular strength of the Business Process Framework is that it is part
of the TM Forum Frameworx program and links with other work underway
in the program.
So, the Business Process Framework defines a business-oriented view of
the enterprise. This view is useful for planners, managers, strategists, etc,
who need to view the enterprise in business terms, without immediate
concern for the nature of the way that these business needs are organized
or automated within the business. Therefore, the Business Process
Framework emphasizes issues such as process structure, process
components, process interactivity and the business roles and
responsibilities to which these relate. In defining these aspects, the
Business Process Framework also provides a basis for setting
requirements for system solutions, technical architectures, technology

GB921 Addendum P, Version 4.9  TM Forum 2010 Page 6 of 31

Business Process Framework
choices and implementation paths, but it is neutral towards the particular
way that these requirements are met.
Thus, the Business Process Framework can be considered to have two
faces: one oriented towards the business, customer, products, etc, and
one towards solutions, systems and implementations supporting the
business.
It should be recognized that through the TM Forum work, the Business
Process Framework represents an industry-consensus on the Service
Provider processes, which has been harmonized across the global scene
and is based on Member contributions. It is allowable, and indeed
expected, that this will mean that the Business Process Framework must
be tailored and/or extended for use within an individual company. In
particular, the Business Process Framework does not seek to constrain
the way that the processes fit into a specific organization. An advantage of
this positioning of the Business Process Framework as a framework,
rather than a directly-implemented specification, is that differentiation
amongst the Business Process Framework users is not restricted, which is
vital to allow specialization and competition. In addition, as already
mentioned, the Business Process Framework does not fix upon particular
routes to implementation and is thus valid in many different environments
with varying levels of automation, technology, etc.
So, the Business Process Framework is a framework, not a final
implementation specification. It will typically be customized and extended
by users for their own business needs, but provides a vital common
reference that is industry recognized and represents a de-facto, and now
through ITU-T an official standard within and between companies on
business process definition.

GB921 Addendum P, Version 4.9  TM Forum 2010 Page 7 of 31

Business Process Framework

2. Where did the Business Process

Framework come from?

Work on business process modeling by the TeleManagement Forum

(formerly the Network Management Forum) began in the early 1990’s with
the Service Management Automation and Reengineering Team (SMART)
that gathered worldwide Service Provider views and distilled an initial
Business Process Model. This work grew in the Telecom Operations Map
(TOM) during the mid-90’s leading to the stabilization and publication of
TOM in its final form towards the end of that decade.
The TOM work gained wide industry support, but the scope of the TOM
model did not cover the whole of the SP enterprise and only focused on
the main Operations processes embodying the traditional telecoms
activities around Fulfillment, Assurance and Billing (FAB). Increasingly, the
complexities of interworking in the deregulated, competitive telecoms
market required a complete enterprise view, and new business demands
triggered by the internet and electronic commerce generally, led to a move
to expand TOM to address this wider perspective.
Thus, eTOM – for enhanced TOM – was initiated as a work program led
by TM Forum as we entered the new Millennium. Initial releases of eTOM
were provided to TM Forum members during 2001, and then a TM Forum
Approved version of eTOM – GB921 v3.0 – was released in mid-2002.
This was welcomed and adopted widely, and so further work to cement
agreements, incorporate industry feedback, and extend the level of detail
described resulted in further intermediate versions and then a new TM
Forum Approved version early in 2004. This version – GB921 v4.0 – was
also submitted under a liaison agreement to the ITU-T, which acts as the
premier world-wide body with a remit under the United Nations for setting
international Recommendations in the telecommunications sphere. This
eTOM version was adopted by ITU-T in toto and has been published in
parallel as their formal Recommendation M.3050, with exact alignment on
the content with TM Forum’s GB921 v4.0.
In 2009 due to the converging of the Information, Communications and
Digital Media industries and the widening use of the eTOM, the TM Forum
decided to rebrand the eTOM to the Business Process Framework. It was
felt this would remove any artificial concerns about using the eTOM in
non-telecommunications environments and broaden the uptake and
adoption of the Business Process Framework (eTOM).
Throughout this history, the Business Process Framework work has
benefited from wide involvement from the global telecommunications
industry, as well as academia, government agencies, etc. As it has
evolved, the core has shown it can stand the test of time, and it is now
regarded as the pre-eminent vehicle for expressing and discussing
business processes in and around the Service Provider domain. The work
continues, with an increasing emphasis now that the Business Process
Framework has established a clear and agreed view of the business

GB921 Addendum P, Version 4.9  TM Forum 2010 Page 8 of 31

Business Process Framework
process framework itself, on applications of the Business Process
Framework and guidance to prospective and existing users on how to
gain maximum benefit from the Business Process Framework in their own
businesses.

GB921 Addendum P, Version 4.9  TM Forum 2010 Page 9 of 31

Business Process Framework

3. How does the Business Process Framework

work?

3.1 Process
Decompositions

Process decomposition is a structured approach to analysis of a business

through consideration of the enterprise’s business processes and their
internal structure. The basis of the concept is illustrated in Figure 0. Here
we see a representative process element, Process X, which might provide
a specific area of capability within an enterprise – say, handling of
customer orders, for example. When analyzed, it is decided that the
contained functionality, behavior, etc associated with that process
can/should be sub-divided into three lower-level process elements. Note
that typically such a “decomposition” is partly evident from the analysis of
the detail captured within the process concerned, and partly is the result of
design decisions, where judgment is used to make the most appropriate
partitioning for the situation under consideration.

Process X

Process Element
- Process Element
- Process Element
-
X1 X2 X3

Process Element
- Process Element
-
X21 X22

Process Element
- Process Element
-
X211 X212

Figure 0: Process Decomposition

Each of the decomposed processes, X1, X2 and X3 can be further
decomposed – X2 is shown as decomposed into X21 and X22 – and this
can be continued – X21 is shown as decomposed into X211 and X212.
Note that not all “branches” of the decomposition “tree” necessarily lead to
“leaves” (i.e. final process elements) at the same level of decomposition.
This will depend on the scope and content of the processes involved.
The process decomposition approach has these general characteristics:
• It defines components of a process that perform part of
that process
• It provides insight into the structure and content of process
areas (or groupings)

GB921 Addendum P, Version 4.9  TM Forum 2010 Page 10 of 31

Business Process Framework
• It reveals finer detail at lower levels, as decomposition
proceeds
• It can be continued to as many sub-levels as are needed
• The aim is to provide a complete analysis of the process
under decomposition - i.e. the sum of the components equals
the totality of the original process
• It represents a static perspective of process
• It does not mandate any flow relationship between the
process elements
Note that the process elements derived through process decomposition
may be applied in various ways within process flows. There may be many
process flows (representing, say, enterprise-specific applications) that can
be built using the common set of process elements specified within the
Business Process Framework. There is further discussion on process
flows later in this section, including the process flow diagrams that arise
and are used in this work.
The process decomposition for the Business Process Framework (see
Figure 1) begins at the Enterprise level and defines business processes in
a series of groupings. The Business Process Framework uses hierarchical
decomposition to structure the business processes according to which all
of the processes of the enterprise are successively decomposed. Process
descriptions, inputs and outputs, as well as other key elements are
defined. The Business Process Framework represents the whole of a
service provider’s enterprise environment. The Framework is defined as
generically as possible so that it is organization, technology and service
independent. At the overall conceptual level, the Business Process
Framework can be viewed as having the following three major process
areas:
Strategy, Infrastructure & Product covering planning and lifecycle
management
Operations covering the core of operational management
Enterprise Management covering corporate or business support
management

GB921 Addendum P, Version 4.9  TM Forum 2010 Page 11 of 31

Business Process Framework
Strategy, Infrastructure & Product Operations
Strategy & Infrastructure Product Operations Fulfillment Assurance Billing &
Commit Lifecycle Lifecycle Support & Revenue
Management Management Readiness Management
Marketing & Offer Management Customer Relationship Management

Service Development & Management Service Management & Operations

Resource Development & Management Resource Management & Operations

(Application, Computing and Network) (Application, Computing and Network)

Supply Chain Development & Management Supplier/Partner Relationship Management

Enterprise Management
Strategic & Enterprise Enterprise Risk Enterprise Effectiveness Knowledge & Research
Planning Management Management Management

Financial & Asset Stakeholder & External Human Resources

Management Relations Management Management

Figure 1: Business Process Framework (eTOM)

The Business Process Framework (see Figure 1) shows seven end-end
vertical process groupings, that are the end-to-end processes that are
required to support customers and to manage the business. Amongst
these End-end Vertical Process Groupings, the focal point of the Business
Process Framework is on the core customer operations processes of
Fulfillment, Assurance and Billing & Revenue Management (FAB).
Operations Support & Readiness (OSR) is differentiated from FAB real-
time processes to highlight the focus on enabling support and automation
in FAB, i.e. on-line and immediate support of customers, with OSR
ensuring that the operational environment is in place to let the FAB
processes do their job. Outside of the Operations process area - in the
Strategy, Infrastructure & Product (SIP) process area - the Strategy &
Commit vertical, as well as the two Lifecycle Management verticals, are
differentiated. These are distinct because, unlike Operations, they do not
directly support the customer, are intrinsically different from the Operations
processes and work on different business time cycles.
The Framework also includes views of functionality as they span
horizontally across an enterprise’s internal organizations. The horizontal
functional process groupings in Figure 1 distinguish functional operations
processes and other types of business functional processes, e.g.,
Marketing versus Selling, Service Development versus Service
Configuration, etc. Amongst these Horizontal Functional Process
Groupings, those on the left (that cross the Strategy & Commit,
Infrastructure Lifecycle Management and Product Lifecycle Management
vertical process groupings) enable, support and direct the work in the
Operations process area.
The Business Process Framework Model graphically illustrates the
business processes required for operating service provider enterprises. It
lays out these processes first from a high level perspective, and then drills
down to increasingly detailed levels of understanding. The Business

GB921 Addendum P, Version 4.9  TM Forum 2010 Page 12 of 31

Business Process Framework
Process Framework describes in text what the model describes
graphically.
So, the Business Process Framework is structured in three main areas
(known as Level 0 processes): Operations (OPS), Strategy Infrastructure
and Product (SIP) and Enterprise Management (EM). Each contains more
detailed process components at Level 1, Level 2, etc as the processes are
decomposed. This hierarchical decomposition enables detail to be defined
in a structured way and also allows the Business Process Framework to
be adopted at varying levels and/or for different processes. The Level
number is an indication of the degree of detail revealed at that level - the
higher the number, the more detailed are the process elements described
there.

Operations
Operations Fulfillment Assurance Billing
Billing
Support & &Revenue
Readiness Management
Customer Relationship Management

Service Management & Operations

Resource Management & Operations

(Application, Computing and Network)

Supplier/Partner Relationship Management

Figure 2: The Business Process Framework Operations (OPS) Processes

Operations (OPS - see Figure 2) is the heart of the Business Process
Framework and much of the original TOM work has carried through into
OPS (the GB921 documentation contains an explanation of the mapping
from TOM to eTOM). The “FAB” processes (Fulfillment, Assurance, Billing
& Revenue Management) provide the core of the Operations area, The
vertical Level 1 processes in FAB represent a view of flow-through of
activity, whereas the horizontal Level 1 processes (CRM, SM&O, RM&O,
S/PRM) represent functionally-related activity, Both views are valid and
the model supports both to accommodate different uses made of the
processes. As a separate issue, OSR (Operations Support & Readiness)
has been separated from FAB to reflect the separation between “front-
office” real-time operations (in FAB) from “back-office” near real-time or
even off-line support processes. This split may not apply in all
organizations (in which case, the OSR and FAB processes can be
merged) but is necessary to allow for the important situation where they
are handled separately.

GB921 Addendum P, Version 4.9  TM Forum 2010 Page 13 of 31

Business Process Framework

Operations
Operations Support Fulfillment Assurance Billing & Revenue
& Readiness Management
Customer Interface Management
Customer Relationship
Selling Bill Payments & Receivables Mgt.
Management
Problem Customer Bill Invoice Bill Inquiry
CRM Marketing Order QoS / SLA Management Handling
Support & Fulfillment Handling
Handling Management Manage
Readiness Response Billing Events Charging

Retention & Loyalty

Service Management &

Service Service Service
SM&O Operations Configuration Problem Quality
Service Guiding
Support & & Mediation
& Activation Management Management
Readiness

Resource Management & Resource Resource

Resource Trouble Performance Resource Mediation
RM&O Operations Provisioning & Reporting
Management Management
Support & Manage
Readiness Workforce Resource Data Collection & Distribution

Supplier/Partner Relationship S/P S/P Problem S/P S/P Settlements

Management Requisition Reporting & Performance & Payments
S/PRM
Management Management Management Management
Support &
Readiness Supplier/Partner Interface Management

Figure 3: Level 2 Operations (OPS) Processes

In Figure 3, the OPS area is shown with Level 2 processes visible. Note,
in general, a Level 2 process is part of a vertical, and also a horizontal,
Level 1 process. Hence, Level 2 processes can be reached in the process
hierarchy by either path (to reflect the different interests and concerns of
users). However, whichever path is used, as shown here, there is a single,
common set of Level 2 processes. In some cases, a Level 2 process is
“stretched” across several vertical Level 1s (e.g. Resource Data
Collection, Analysis and Control in RM&O). This is because the process
concerned is needed in several vertical Level 1s (e.g. for Resource Data
Collection, Analysis and Control, the data collected from the network (say)
can represent usage data for Billing & Revenue Management but can also
support fault handling or performance assessment in Assurance).

Fulfillment (L1)
Resource Management & Operations (L1)
Resource Provisioning (L2)

Allocate & Deliver Configure & Activate

Resource (L3) Resource (L3)

Collect, Update &

Test Resource (L3) Report Resource
Configuration Data (L3)

Figure 4: An example of Level 3 Operations (OPS) Processes

GB921 Addendum P, Version 4.9  TM Forum 2010 Page 14 of 31

Business Process Framework
This mechanism of decomposition can be extended as required. In Figure
4, we see an example of the Level 3 process elements within a single
Level 2 process element – Resource Provisioning. Full descriptions of
decompositions to Level 3 for this and other processes are included in the
GB921 documentation.

Strategy, Infrastructure & Product

Strategy & Infrastructure Product
Commit Lifecycle Lifecycle
Management Management
Marketing & Offer Management

Service Development & Management

Resource Development & Management

(Application, Computing and Network)

Supply Chain Development & Management

Figure 5: The Business Process Framework Strategy, Infrastructure & Product

(SIP) Processes
Strategy, Infrastructure & Product (SIP – see Figure 5) has a similar
structure to OPS with corresponding vertical and horizontal Level 1
processes. In the verticals, Strategy & Commit covers the processes
involved in forming and deciding company strategy and gaining
commitment from the business for this. Infrastructure Lifecycle
Management covers control of the infrastructures used in the business –
the network is the most obvious, but also IT infrastructure and even the
human resources of the company. Product Lifecycle Management covers
the products themselves – note that the Business Process Framework
distinguishes Product (as sold to Customers) from Service (used internally
to represent the “technical” part of the product, i.e. excluding commercial
aspects such as tariffing, T&Cs, support, etc) and Resource (physical and
non-physical components used to support Service).
The horizontal functional groupings in SIP are aligned with those in OPS,
so that if desired the processes included can be considered to link across
smoothly from the SIP domain to the OPS domain, if this is relevant to
some aspects of business behavior in enterprises.

GB921 Addendum P, Version 4.9  TM Forum 2010 Page 15 of 31

Business Process Framework

Strategy, Infrastructure & Product

Strategy & Commit Infrastructure Product
Lifecycle Lifecycle
Management Management
Marketing & Offer Management Product & Offer Product Marketing
Development Communications
Market Product & Offer Marketing Product & Offer & Retirement & Promotion
Strategy & Portfolio Planning Capability Capability Delivery
Policy Delivery Sales Development

Service Development & Management

Service Service Service
Strategy & Capability Development &
Planning Delivery Retirement

Resource Development & Management

Resource Resource Resource
Strategy & Capability Development &
Planning Delivery Retirement

Supply Chain Development & Management Supply Chain

Supply Chain Supply Chain Development
Strategy & Capability & Change
Planning Delivery Management

Figure 6: Level 2 Strategy, Infrastructure & Product (SIP) Processes

In Figure 6, the SIP area is shown with Level 2 processes visible. As with
OPS, a Level 2 process is part of a vertical, and also a horizontal, Level 1
process (but note that all SIP processes fit this pattern, and there are not
exceptions as in OPS).

Enterprise
Management

Strategic & Knowledge Enterprise Financial & Enterprise Human Stakehlder &
Enterprise & Research Effectiveness Asset Risk Resources Ext. Relations
Planning Management Management Management Management Management Management
Strategic Process Business Corporate
Knowledge Financial HR Policies
Business Management Continuity Comms &
Management Management & Practices
Planning & Support Management Image Mgt
Enterprise Community
Business Research Asset Security Organization Relations
Quality
Development Management Management Management Development Management
Management
Enterprise Program Shareholder
Technology Procurement Fraud Workforce
Architecture & Project Relations
Scanning Management Management Strategy
Management Management Management
Group Enterprise Audit Workforce
Enterprise Performance Regulatory
Management Development Management
Management Assessment
ITIL Release ITIL Service Facilities ITIL Service Employee
Catalogue Insurance & Labor Legal
& Deploymnt. Management Continuity
Management Management Relations Mgt Management
Management & Support Management
ITIL Service ITIL Revenue Board &
ITIL Change Level Event Shares/Secur.
Assurance
Management Management Management Management
Management
Level 0
ITIL ITIL ITIL Service ITIL
Capacity Incident Asset & Confg Problem Level 1
Management Management Management Management
ITIL ITIL Continual ITIL Level 2
Availability ITIL Request Service Info Security
Management Fulfillment Improvement Management

GB921 Addendum P, Version 4.9  TM Forum 2010 Page 16 of 31

Business Process Framework
Figure 7: The Business Process Framework Enterprise Management (EM)
Processes
Enterprise Management (EM – see Figure 7) is shown in a different view –
this is a typical hierarchy diagram as provided from process analysis and
modeling tools used for the Business Process Framework. The top box is
EM itself (Level 0), the next horizontal row shows the Level 1 processes in
EM, and the columns below each Level 1 box shows Level 2 processes
within that Level 1 process.
Now, with this overall view of the process structure to Level 2 (and
descriptions for all these process elements, as well as for Level 3 process
elements, are in the GB921 documentation), it is important, however, to
note that this view of the processes provides very little insight into how the
processes interact. To gain this valuable additional perspective, we must
look to process flows.

3.2 Process Flows

Process decompositions provide an essential insight into the process

definition and content. To understand further how the processes behave,
process flows can be developed that examine how some or all of the
processes support some larger, “end-to-end” or “through” process view
across the enterprise. Such process flows are not constrained to bridge
across the entire enterprise – they can have any scope that is considered
meaningful and helpful to analyze - but typically such process flows
involve a broad area of the enterprise processes, and thus of the Business
Process Framework. Thus, process flows examine some specific scenario
in which the processes achieve an overall business purpose.
To begin with, though, Figure 8 shows only a fragment of a process flow,
where several Business Process Framework Level 2 OPS processes can
be recognized, and labeled linkages between these indicate the nature of
the transfer that arises in operation. Note that here, and in later diagrams
in this section, the flows are examples from previous work that links with
an older version of the Business Process Framework, but it is the
principles rather than the specifics of the flows illustrated that are the focus
here.
In this case, we can see that part of handling a customer order is shown.

GB921 Addendum P, Version 4.9  TM Forum 2010 Page 17 of 31

Business Process Framework
Order
completed
Customer Customer
Request Order
Order
Selling
Handling

Request
Service Service
Activation Activated

Service
Configuration
&
Activation

Request
Resource Resource
Activation Activated

Resource
Provisioning

Figure 8: Process Flow (partial example only)

The process flow approach has these general characteristics:
• It analyzes a typical (specific) scenario
• It provides insight into the behavior and interaction
amongst processes
• It chooses to model the flow at an appropriate level of
process detail
• It can use process decompositions (and vice versa) to
enhance/refine detail
• The aim is to provide only an example of the process
flows - i.e. only some of the possible interactions are
described in each scenario
• Thus, it typically provides a partial view of process
behavior (because flows are based on specific scenarios)
• It represents a dynamic perspective of process
In applying this approach for Business Process Framework process flows, it has been
found that a number of different flow-related diagram types have proved useful,
considering the variety of interest (business and technical, high level and detailed design)
that need to be addressed.
First is a general positioning type of diagram that provides only limited insight into the
flow, but helps focus attention on the general area of the Business Process Framework
involved.

GB921 Addendum P, Version 4.9  TM Forum 2010 Page 18 of 31

Business Process Framework

Strategy, Infrastructure & Product Operations

Strategy & Infrastructure Lifecycle Product Lifecycle Operations Support Fulfillment Assurance Billing
Commit Management Management & Readiness
Marketing & Offer Management Customer Relationship Management
Sales Customer Interface Management
Development
Selling
Market Product & Product & Offer Marketing CRM
Customer Billing &
Strategy & Offer Portfolio Capability Capability Support & Problem
Marketing QoS/SLA Collections
Policy Planning Delivery Delivery Product & Offer Readiness Order Handling
Product Marketing Fulfillment Management Management
Communications Development & Handling
Response
& Promotion Retirement

Retention & Loyalty

Service Development & Management Service Management & Operations

Service Service Service &
Service Service Service SM&O Service Problem Quality Specific
Strategy & Capability Development & Support & Configuration & Management Management Instance Rating
Planning Delivery Retirement Readiness Activation

Resource Development & Management Resource Management & Operations

Resource Resource
Resource Trouble Performance
Resource Resource RM&O Management Management
Development & Resource
Strategy & Capability Support &
Retirement Provisioning
Planning Delivery Readiness
Resource Data Collection & Processing

Supply Chain Development & Management Supplier/Partner Relationship Management

S/P Problem S/P S/P Settlements
Supply Chain S/P Reporting & Performance
Supply Chain Supply Chain S/PRM & Billing
Strategy & Requisition Management Management
Capability Development & Support & Management
Planning Management
Delivery Change Management Readiness

S/P Interface Management

Supplier/Partner

Enterprise Management ? Info &Comm

System Support ?
? Work Task
Assignment ?
Strategic & Enterprise Planning Enterprise Risk Management Enterprise Effectiveness Management Knowledge & Research Management
Strategic Enterprise Group Business Process Enterprise Program & Enterprise Facilities
Business Security Fraud Audit Insurance Knowledge Research Technology
Business Architecture Enterprise Continuity Management & Quality Project Performance Management & Management Scanning
Development Management Management Management Management Management
Planning Management Management Management Support Management Management Assessment Support

Financial & Asset Management Stakeholder & External Relations Management Human Resources Management
Corporate Community Shareholder Board & Employee &
Financial Asset Procurement Regulatory Legal HR Policies & Organization Workforce Workforce
Communications & Relations Relations Shares/Securities Labor Relations
Management Management Management Management Management Practices Development Strategy Development
Image Management Management Management Management Management

Shareholders Employees Other Stakeholders

Figure 9: General Interaction Diagram for DSL Fulfillment

Figure 9 shows an example of this diagram - a general process interaction
diagram – for a scenario based around DSL Fulfillment that is covered in
the GB921 documentation. This shows some of the process interactions
that arise for this scenario, but does not give any detailed insight at this
level into the behavior. It is still useful for a high-level view, though.

Customer
contacts retailer Sales Proposal
received By
Customer

Customer Relationship Management Customer Interface Management

Customer Customer Customer Customer

Sales Inquiry Need Need Alternative Profile Contact
Marketing
Routed Clarification Clarification Solution Sales ProposalRetrieved Recorded
Fulfillment Res ...
Requested Provided Offered Offered
Retention &
Loyalty Order Handling
Feasibility
Selling
Requested
Feasibility
Assessment
Completed
Service Management & Operations
Design &
Technology
Selection Request

Service Configuration & Activation

Resource Resource
Reservation Reservation
Resource Management & Operations
Requested Confirmed

Resource Provisioning & Allocation to Service Instance

Check External
Supplier
Solution
Supplier/Partner Relationship Management
Pre-Order initiated
S/P Buying S/P Purchase Pre-Order
Order
Management

Figure 10: Process Interaction Flow Diagram for DSL Fulfillment (Pre-Sales)
The next diagram type, shown in Figure 10, is developed directly from a
process analysis and modeling tool (rather than a general drawing
software). Here we are working with Level 2 process elements but other

GB921 Addendum P, Version 4.9  TM Forum 2010 Page 19 of 31

Business Process Framework
Levels can be used depending on the detail required. This diagram type
positions the Business Process Framework processes in relatively the
same way that they can be seen on the Business Process Framework
model diagrams (see, for example, Figure 3 earlier), which assists with
recognition and avoids confusion. Each process only appears once, and
so sequencing of the interactions is not explicit in this diagram (it is on the
process dynamics diagrams later).
An important element in flow diagrams of this kind is that of “swimlanes”.
These are areas in the process flow diagram, containing typically several
process elements that contribute to the overall process flow, which scope
a useful area of attention to assist the user. In this example, the swimlanes
have been drawn to represent the four horizontal functional process
groupings of the Operations area of the Business Process Framework,
since the scenario involved is focused in the Operations domain. In thi
sarrangement, all the process elements in a specific swimlane in the
diagram (e.g. in the loweset swimlane for Supplier/Partner Management &
Operations) are components of that horizontal functional process
grouping. It should be noted that swimlanes (despite their name) need not
be only horizontal, although this is a common choice for clarity, and is the
approach used in the Business Process Framework process flow
diagrams.
The process flow in Figure 10 addresses the pre-sales stage of Fulfillment
(other phases are documented in separate diagrams, for convenience). It
kicks-off from the Marketing Fulfillment Response process stimulating a
customer to make a service enquiry (in fact, in Business Process
Framework terms the customer buys a product, as service is reserved for
the internal technical capability that supports a product). The Customer
then contacts the retailer (external event) and the enquiry is routed
through Customer Interface Management to Selling (sales enquiry routed).
Note that interactions between processes (like sales enquiry routed) are
events, and are not intrinsically information transfers. Thus they can be
considered to represent transfer of control.
After any necessary clarification with the customer, Selling requests Order
Handling to check on the feasibility of satisfying the product request, and
this leads to a design being developed for the product instance required,
and checks through Service Configuration & Activation, and then
Resource Provisioning & Allocation to Service Instance, that this can be
done. This may also involve interaction with a supplier via S/P Requisition
Management, etc. Eventually, if all is well, a sales proposal is offered or an
alternative solution offered.

GB921 Addendum P, Version 4.9  TM Forum 2010 Page 20 of 31

Business Process Framework
Order Completion
Customer places Order Notification

Customer Relationship Management Customer Interface Management

Design
Order Confirmation by
Confirmed Customer Completion
by Customer Retention & Loyalty Engineering Design Advised to
Priority Requested Accepted by Customer
Priority Advised Customer Billing &
Requested Customer Order Collections
Processing Requested Order Handling Management
Selling

Internal
Service Management & Operations
Design Service
Requested Order
Initiated Service Details
Design Service
for Billing
Completed Activated

External Supplier
Selection Required Service Configuration & Activation

Internal Internal Resource

Service Details
Capacity Work Order Resource Activation Resource
Resource Management & Operations for Assurance
Requested Capacity Initiated Provisioning Requested Activated External
Reserved Completed Resource
Activated
Resource Provisioning
Customer
QoS/SLA
Management
Supplier/Partner Relationship Management
External Component Requested
S/P Requisition External Order
Management Issued

Figure 11: Process Interaction Flow Diagram for DSL Fulfillment (Ordering)
Figure 11 is also another example of this diagram type, for the main
Ordering phase of Fulfillment. It kicks-off with the Customer placing an
order, and then tracks through Selling, Order handling, and the service
and resource layer processes that actually configure the product instance.
As the product instance is brought into service, there are external
interactions with Billing (now, Billing & Revenue Management)) to set up
charging for this.
However, even though interactions are labeled in these diagrams,
sequencing and dependencies in the flow are still not explicit. For this, we
need to generate another kind of diagram.

GB921 Addendum P, Version 4.9  TM Forum 2010 Page 21 of 31

Business Process Framework
Customer A w aiting Order Confirmation
r equests SP
offering
Aw aiting Design

Customer Order
Confirmed Resource
Aw aiting resource Alloccation A llocated

Customer Interface
Customer
Market Management
Request
Product &
Service
Customer

Selling Or der Handling

Cus tomer Order Initiated

Priority Pr iority
Requested Advised

Design
r equested
Retention &
Loyalty

Service

Service Service Design

Configuration & Configuration & Completion
Activation Activation

Ex ternal Resource
Component A llocation
r equested r equested

Resource(Ap
plication,
Computing
and Netw ork) Resource
Pr ovisioning

Supplier/ S/P Requisition

Partner Management

Ex ternal Order Resource

Issued A llocation

Figure 12: Process Dynamics Flow Diagram for DSL Fulfillment (Ordering)
Figure 12 represents a process dynamics flow diagram, showing the
process dynamics explicitly. Each process typically appears several times,
on each occasion providing a specific step in the process flow sequence.
As there is therefore typically different functionality employed on each
appearance, this diagram can provide insight into the decomposition of the
Level 2 process into Level 3 processes. It shows equivalent information to
the Ordering process interaction diagram of Figure 11, but is more
technically complete and is a better basis for further design.
Developing process flows in this way is a valuable source of insight and
additional detail to validate process decompositions, and to address
specific areas of business priority for Business Process Framework
application.

GB921 Addendum P, Version 4.9  TM Forum 2010 Page 22 of 31

Business Process Framework

4. Why use the Business Process Framework?

The Framework makes available a standard structure, terminology and

classification scheme for describing business processes and their
constituent building blocks
The Framework supplies a foundation for applying enterprise-wide
discipline to the development of business processes
The Framework provides a basis for understanding and managing
portfolios of IT applications in terms of business process requirements
The Framework enables creation of consistent and high-quality end-to-
end process flows, with opportunities for cost and performance
improvement, and for re-use of existing processes and systems
The Framework use across the industry will increase the likelihood that
off-the-shelf applications will be readily integrated into the enterprise, at a
lower cost than custom-built applications

GB921 Addendum P, Version 4.9  TM Forum 2010 Page 23 of 31

Business Process Framework

5. When can the Business Process Framework

help?

The Business Process Framework can be used as a tool for analyzing

your organization’s existing processes and for developing new processes.
Different processes delivering the same business functionality can be
identified, duplication eliminated, gaps revealed, new process design
speeded up, and variance reduced. Using the Business Process
Framework, you can assess the value, cost and performance of individual
processes within your organization.
You can facilitate your relationships with suppliers and partners by
identifying and categorizing the processes you use in interactions with
them. In a similar manner, you can identify the all-important customer
relationship processes and evaluate whether they are functioning as
required to meet your customers’ expectations.

GB921 Addendum P, Version 4.9  TM Forum 2010 Page 24 of 31

Business Process Framework

6. Who is using the Business Process

Framework?

A natural question that arises is to be aware of where the Business

Process Framework is being used in the industry and how it is benefiting
those involved. This is a difficult issue to address due to commercial
confidentiality and sensitivity on strategic information about company
directions. However, a number of organizations have declared a position
on this publicly, and the general interest and support for the Business
Process Framework is now very high and so we would hope to see
increasing public information available on this. The two main groups of
Business Process Framework users are (1) Service Providers and (2)
Vendors, System Integrators, etc. It is worth noting that there is private
information on a much larger number of organizations applying the
Business Process Framework in their businesses, and a much larger
number again of organizations that are using the Business Process
Framework but who have not yet made contact with TM Forum about this
(and which are therefore discovered by chance).
A vital source of insight on users and projects linked with the TM Forum
work, is the extensive series of case Studies (now more than 200) setting
out how individual companies have applied the work. Many of these relate
to the Business Process Framework (often using the “eTOM” label) and
these can be viewed at:
http://www.tmforum.org/CaseStudies
Another important source is the presentations made at conference events
such as Management World (see http://www.tmforum.org/Conferences)
Another aspect of Business Process Framework usage is through other
industry bodies that are operating in, or have influence on, the area. For
example, the Business Process Framework has been endorsed by ITU-T.
This represents a major achievement and establishes the Business
Process Framework (eTOM), which has grown already to become a de
facto standard, as a formal standard Recommendation (identified as
M.3050) through ITU-T with its mandate under the United Nations.

GB921 Addendum P, Version 4.9  TM Forum 2010 Page 25 of 31

Business Process Framework

7. Some Ideas on Using the Business Process

Framework

Service Providers
1. Assign your technical personnel to review the Business Process
Framework and Model, and to present recommendations on it for your
enterprise (see www.tmforum.org for download advice).
2. Encourage your vendors to understand the Business Process
Framework, and. to describe their software applications in relation to the
Business Process Framework.
3. If you want your company’s view incorporated in future versions of the
Business Process Framework, send a representative to participate
actively in its ongoing development.
Vendors
1. Provide materials on your software products for customers using the
Business Process Framework structure and concepts.
2. Assist your customers’ understanding of your software products by
explaining your software products in relation to the Business Process
Framework.
3. Use the Business Process Framework as a guide to help generate
product gap analysis, market analysis, competitive analysis, etc.
4. Establish and build partnerships to produce more complete solutions for
service providers.
5. To ensure the Business Process Framework accurately reflects how
the telecom business operates, send a representative to participate in its
ongoing development.
Note: Vendors, System Integrators and related companies are generally
comprised of common roles. The common roles are shown below with a
brief description of each role. These common roles are not prescriptive.
Rather, they are provided to illustrate the breadth of the Business Process
Framework impact on vendor and system integrator organizational roles.
• Senior Management:
o Mission & strategy
• Business:
o Customer, market needs & issues
o Portfolio generation & management
o Value proposition
o Business case development
o Partnerships

GB921 Addendum P, Version 4.9  TM Forum 2010 Page 26 of 31

Business Process Framework
• Marketing:
o Market & competitive analysis
o Branding, advertising, promotions, etc.
o Public relations
• Sales:
o RFQs, RFIs, RFPs, contracts, etc.
• Finance :
o Revenue & cost forecasting
o Order to cash, billing, etc.
• Systems Engineering:
o Research and Design
o System design: architecture, interfaces, etc.
o Technology, etc. roadmaps
• Development Engineering:
o Hardware, software, services products and
solutions
• Test:
o System, product, field, compliance, “X-ility”
(Availability, Operability, …), etc. testing &
certification
• Manufacturing:
o Supply chain (in)
o Warranty, etc.
• Deployment:
o Supply chain (out)
o Delivery & installation
o Acceptance test
o Field trials, Field problem resolution, MOL

Bringing the Business Process Framework into your Business –

Some hints and Suggestions
To begin to evaluate and use the Business Process Framework for your
own business, it is essential that the ground is prepared so that the goals
are clear and it is possible to assess the impact of this.
As a first step, it is important to gain internal commitment to the
introduction of the Business Process Framework, since the sort of
business process analysis, and possible changes that will result, need
buy-in and active participation from those affected. From experience, a
vital element in success is to obtain senior management recognition and
support.

GB921 Addendum P, Version 4.9  TM Forum 2010 Page 27 of 31

Business Process Framework
It is also critical to identify and assess the area where the Business
Process Framework may bring benefit , and to define success criteria for
any trial or application of the Business Process Framework, so that results
can be used to build confidence and then to justify further work.
In using the Business Process Framework, it is important to recognize that
it provides a ready-made generic business process framework, which may
need adjustment for your business., and that it is progressively being
further developed to lower-level detail.
So, the Business Process Framework can be used directly:
 to assist your business partitioning (Business Process
Framework process groupings and definitions to define
roles and responsibilities within your organization)
 to seek supply of system and solutions from vendors that
identify which processes within the Business Process
Framework are being automated, so as to:
 brings economies of scale across industry
 accelerates availability of products
 allows customization and extension
In addition, the Business Process Framework can be adapted and
extended to accommodate specific needs in your own area:
 use Business Process Framework as baseline
 define additional detail and modifications in areas specific
to your business
 extend the Business Process Framework for use within
your company
 influence ongoing Business Process Framework
development through direct participation
o share ideas and gain insight
o ensure the Business Process Framework evolves
in line with your needs
o maximize the relevance of industry products

In extending and customizing the Business Process Framework, a

number of strategies can be used:
Bottom-up
 Start with your enterprise existing Business Processes
definitions
 Map existing Business Process flows back to the Business
Process Framework
 Construct your own decomposition of the Business
Process Framework published Business Processes
Top down

GB921 Addendum P, Version 4.9  TM Forum 2010 Page 28 of 31

Business Process Framework
 Decompose the Business Process Framework processes
into component processes, to expose more detail
 Define process flows, to link processes together
 Combine decompositions and flows, to describe fully the
behavior of each process area
Continue (as required) to lower levels of detail
The approach used can be adjusted as convenient in each case.
Experience shows there is value in firming up agreement at a given level
of decomposition and analysis, before proceeding to develop fully the next
level of detail (of course, it may be helpful to “look ahead” a little to ensure
that the current level of detail is resilient).
An important message is:
Stop when you wish!
You have reached an end-point when you have sufficient detail to use
within your business, or when you consider the added value gained of
developing further detail is not in proportion of the extra work needed.

GB921 Addendum P, Version 4.9  TM Forum 2010 Page 29 of 31

Business Process Framework

8. Administrative Appendix

8.1
Acknowledgements

This release of the Business Process Framework is the result of the

combined efforts of a large group of individuals from companies all over
the world. Most noteworthy is the participation of numerous service
providers. The knowledge and commitment in providing contributions and
participating in discussions are greatly appreciated. Contributors over the
program leading to previous Business Process Framework/eTOM
releases were acknowledged in those documents
The team looks forward to continued input and involvement for ongoing
work on the Business Process Framework. Thank you for making this the
acknowledged, best framework for Telecom and Information Services
business processes.

See main document (GB921 Concepts and Principles) for other

acknowledgements.

8.2 Document History

8.2.1 Version History

Version Date Modified Modified by: Description of

Number changes
eTOM 05/04 Launch of this
Addendum P Addendum,
NGOSS Version packaged as
4.5 GB921P for this
release.
Provides an
introduction to
eTOM and can be
used as a primer
for the rest of the
GB921 documents
Version 4.6 11/04 Minor updates prior
to Member
Evaluation.
Version 4.7 06/09 Minor updates to
reflect TM Forum
Approved status
Version 4.8 Jan 2010 Mike Kelly Small

GB921 Addendum P, Version 4.9  TM Forum 2010 Page 30 of 31

Business Process Framework
(with some terminology
updates by Ken changes to use
Dilbeck) “Business
Process
Framework” and
to update
diagrams;
incorporation of
member review
comments
Version 4.9 March 2010 Alicja Kawecki Minor cosmetic
corrections for
web posting

8.2.2 Release History

Release Date Modified Modified by: Description of

Number changes
8.1 Jan 2010 Mike Kelly Small
(with some terminology
updates by Ken changes to use
Dilbeck) “Business
Process
Framework” and
to update
diagrams;
incorporation of
member review
comments

GB921 Addendum P, Version 4.9  TM Forum 2010 Page 31 of 31