Sysetm Architect Add on for Visio 2007

Finally the power of simplicity gets recognition. I think I have blogged about my desperation at (my client’s as well as my organization’s) decision of going for complex BPA tools when Visio seemed to be more than enough for their needs. The truth remains that we still use a very small part of capability of the tools.

Well now coming to the recognition, I am talking about this new Add on from Telelogic System Architect for Visio. Before going into details of what it promises to do, I would like to say that it is a wonderful move by Telelogic to mark a greater presence in the BPA market. The logic they are using is so simple : “If you cant take out the competition, join him.” Instead of keep trying to position SA as alternative to Visio, they have wisely accepted the entrenched position of Visio in the target market and are trying to build upon what Visio does not provide.

This add on is named the Telelogic System Architect Process Integrator and has been designed for Visio 2007. Here are some things that it promises to do:

1. The Telelogic solution consists of Visio templates focused on Business Process Modeling (BPM) and specific Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN) object types.

2. Legacy Visio models can be imported into the repository via an integration path.

3. Visio models, objects, and definitions would be stored in the System Architect repository.

4. You can access the Visio models and tie them into the more complex analysis and reporting capabilities available in System Architect.

Visio business process diagrams in the repository are available for efficiency, optimization, simulation, and impact analysis through features such as explorer diagrams, System Architect/XT graphics, and System Architect analytics and simulation.

5. Telelogic’s Information Publisher™ provides a Web site development tool that uses standard System Architect reports to deliver target information to its audience.

Therefore needless to say I am excited about it. I tried to find out what exactly is coming up, but it seems the product is set to be launched in India next Thursday (20th September 07) and I cant have my hands on it before that.

Some interesting things I want to know are:
1. How has the BPMN object types included? Visio 2007 did not include a BPMN stencil.

2. How does it store the Visio diagram in its repository (known as encyclopedia)? In SA each symbol has a definition, has this concept been extended to Visio shapes. Not that Visio shapes did not have properties, but I want to see how those have been changed to ensure storage in SA repository.

3. How does it force users to make valid BPMN diagrams? What kind of restrictions would it impose on Visio users?

4. How much of analysis can be done on Imported Visio diagrams? Simulation on SA diagrams is pain enough.

5. In what form will Information Publisher represent the Visio diagrams? Especially since I really love the inherent publishing capabilities in Visio.

6. How effective would be the auto report generation on these Visio diagrams? The existing capabilities in Visio is good for nothing and I cant believe they could have ported the entire capabilities of SA reporting to imported Visio diagrams.

Probably answers to a lot of these questions would depend on how the meta model of Visio and SA have been reconciled.

It’s a pity, they cant make the Beta version available for trying my hand on.