Modern businesses and establishments rely on software application to run vital processes. The challenge for businesses is to adapt to rapid changes both from within and outside that affects the operation. I have worked with the Higher Education Institution and the changes are sometimes requiring immediate action. The original in-house Student Information System that was built about five years would not be able to cope up with the current changes.

The institute for example has changed from four to three schools, implemented flexible study programs, satellite institute partnerships were established, and more. Thus, it posed a great challenge to the in-house software developers where I belong. Business Process Management was considered as a tool in helping optimize and improve the operation of the institute. The team has looked into porting all client server based software application to web. Business Process Execution Language (BPEL) would be good in outlining and modeling the requirements for the web applications based on the business needs.

Software application development team has been time and again looking on newer technologies that could help alleviate the problem. SOA Software or Service Oriented Architecture Software primarily on web technologies that are capable of inter operating with other software application for easy data interchange. SOA is becoming an important requirement in software development.

There’s a great need also for software developers to work closely with people in businesses. I have read some interesting article from ActiveVos Blog regarding Business Process Management and Web Services. The website is a good resource for getting a better understanding of BPM, SOA, BPEL, and other related topics. Business Process Management could facilitate collaboration for IT and Business people provide better change control of the software development, allows easy and fast changes in the system, and more which would indeed make it a tool to consider in software development.