This section provides definitions of words, terms, phases and acronyms, frequently used or referenced in the business process change community. As the business process change market evolves, these terms evolve and change, as well. Formal business process languages like BPML have semantic definitions that are enforced by the language standard. Other groups, such as the Workflow Management Coalition (WfMC), publish formal glossaries. Still other groups define terms in ways specific to their particular community. Most of these communities use or define these terms in slightly different ways. Old terms take on new and varied meanings, new terms emerge, and it is often confusing to business managers trying to communicate across the various business process change communities. This glossary recognizes these differences, seeks to provide generic definitions and suggests a common language. In cases where we know that communities use these terms in ways significantly different from those we provide, we note the fact. We hope our members and visitors find this glossary helpful and we pledge to work hard to keep it current.

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D

DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control)

An acronym used by Six Sigma practioners to remind them of the steps in a Six Sigma improvement project.

Decision Point or Diamond

A diamond or hexagonal figure used on process diagrams to show when a decision leads to a branching in the flow of information, control or materials. Technically, all decisions take place within activities and arrows only show the flow between activities. As a convenience, however, if the decisions lead to branching, we often represent them on the process diagram and label them to indicate why a flow would go to one subsequent activity rather than another.

Decision Support Systems

Software systems designed to pull together information for managers to facilitate decisions. Increasingly, applications are not simply designed to automate a process, but to provide managers with ongoing information about the process so they can make more timely and accurate decisions.

Diagram

An informal, graphical picture of some set of entities and some relations between them. Contrast with model.

Differentiation

A competitive strategy that allows a company to sell its products for a premium price. This emphasizes creating superior products, products with unique or more desirable features or design.

Dot-com Company

A generic, and increasingly derisive term, for any company that was created to take advantage of the Internet and its technologies. Most dot.com companies were founded in the late Nineties and most failed when the Federal Reserve restricted money in 2000. Most dot.com companies were based on inadequate business models. Some dot.com companies, like www.Amazon.com and www.ebay.com, have proved successful. While the recession of 2000-2002 eliminated most of the "pure play" dot.com companies, it didn't dampen the interest of conventional companies that are currently seeking to integrate Internet techniques with their existing business models to gain new customers or increased efficiencies.

Downsizing

Reducing the number of employees at a company. Occasionally necessary. In the mid-Nineties, it was too often done in conjunction with BPR projects and many employees now associate BPR with downsizing.