Many to Many relationship between Business Application and Business Process

sstrobel · ‎03-28-2023

In V4 of the CSDM Model, the cmdb_ci_buisness_process became a foundational data element. I have some stakeholders that want to tie business applications to business processes. In the cmdb_ci_business_application table there is a column apm_business_process. This would indicate that the thinking was that this would be a "related" relationship between the two, but a one to many relationship between app to process. I do have business applications that can potentially service multiple business processes. I'm not certain yet if the need for a business application to be tied to multiple business processes is solved by utilizing the platform host/platform app capability and being more granular with the business application definitions. Has anyone else encountered this and if so, what solutions have you tested and/or are using?

CMDB Whisperer · ‎04-03-2023

Sorry, I misspoke. I was thinking about the many-to-many table between Business App and Task. You are correct, there is no many-to-many list for Business App and Business Process. I would tend to think about this as a Business Process ==depends on==> Business Application. That said, to my knowledge there is no prescriptive relationship defined for Business Process at this time, at least not in CSDM. So it's still a bit subjective. But in my view you are more likely to have a Business Process that depends on multiple Applications than an Application that depends on multiple Processes. Business Process seems like the thing that you would want to understand from a Business Continuity perspective, for example. And this means you would want to understand what Applications and Services the Process depends on, so that you can manage the risks associated with each one. But again, this is still ambiguous from CSDM perspective. You could even have a Business Service that depends on a Process which depends on another Business Service. One of the big questions for sure.

The opinions expressed here are the opinions of the author.

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AmitS6661788622 · ‎07-15-2025

i believe Used By:Uses is the relationship APM/EA suggested when hovering over Relationship editor.

TrishP · ‎03-27-2024

Hi @CMDB Whisperer

Great analysis! It is almost a year on from this post and it seems we still don't have definite guidance regarding Business Processes.

Are you aware of any development in the next version of the CSDM that will cater for the Business Processes CI Class?

@Mark Bodman

Thank you again

Regards

Jim Federline · ‎03-29-2024

While there is no CSDM guidance on Bus Proc to Bus App, there is lesser known functionality OOTB that does define a many-to-many related list with business rule that auto-creates the Depends On CI relationships @CMDB Whisperer quite sanely promotes.

It is available without additional licensure, no APM needed. I'm hoping this precedent is kept with future CSDM enhancements.

See my reply to a similar thread with same theme for details: CSDM - How to manage Business Process?

TrishP · ‎03-29-2024

Hi Jim,

I just read your comprehensive analysis in response to CMDB Whisperer

Thank you so much for your insights, a very valuable contribution regarding the "elusive" Business Process Class.

Regards

Trish