A business process is a set of linked activities that create value by transforming an input into a more valuable output. Both input and output can be artefacts and/or information and the activities can be performed by humans, machines, or both. The processes can serve the purpose of the core business operations (manufacturing, sales, etc.), management (strategy, planning, tracking, etc.), or support (hiring, accounting, etc.) of the core business operations.
The following figure illustrates how a candidate selection process for hiring can be automated using Documentum. The hiring process is usually a much bigger process, including activities prior to gathering resumes and following the interviews. However, this example only automates a short portion including screening and interview activities. This example will be referred to repeatedly to illustrate the concepts being discussed.
Technology offers a great potential to serve businesses by making business processes more...