Database Reference
In-Depth Information
in the wards and to the outpatients. The laboratory examines blood samples, per-
forms tests on the samples, and provides results to the physicians and surgeons. In
all of their activities, although varied, the pharmacy and the laboratory support the
core business of the medical center, which is patient care.
However we might expand the list of companies for consideration, we will
observe that each company has a core business and that the diverse activities of
various departments in the company are performed for the purpose of supporting
the core business. All activities center upon the core business.
Here is a sample of the core businesses of a few types of organizations:
Retail grocery store —buy groceries from vendors and sell to retail customers
Stock brokerage —buy and sell stocks and bonds for individuals and institutions
Auction company —enable customers sell and buy goods through auctions
Computer consulting —provide consulting services
Airlines —provide air transportation to customers
Car dealership —buy and sell cars
Department store —buy and sell consumer goods
University —provide higher learning to students
How does the core business of an enterprise get done? How does the core busi-
ness of buying and selling cars get done by a car dealership? How is the core busi-
ness, namely, patient care, of a medical center accomplished? Each department in
the enterprise performs processes to achieve the objectives of the enterprise to get
the core business done. Let us examine the processes and see the connection to the
database system.
Primary Processes
When you consider organizations and their core businesses, it ultimately comes
down to the fact that each core business is somehow related to providing either ser-
vices or goods. The type of service depends on the individual organization. A
medical center provides health care services; a banking institution makes financial
services available. Similarly, the nature of the goods is determined by the individ-
ual organization. An automobile manufacturer makes cars and trucks; a pharma-
ceutical company produces drugs and medical accessories.
The core business is to provide goods or services. To whom? To customers. How
does an organization accomplish the provision of goods or services? Who in the
organization is part of this activity of providing goods and service? Everyone. The
functions of each person and every department are directed toward accomplishing
the purpose of the core business. Many distinctive processes carried out by the
departments support the core business. These primary processes fulfill the purpose
of the core business. Figure 3-1 illustrates this principle of core business accom-
plished through business processes within the organization.
Let us take a concrete example. Consider the case of an airline company.
Providing air transportation to customers is the core business. One of the organi-
zational units of the airline company is the ticketing department or the ticketing
counter at the airport. This unit is involved with many processes that support the
Search WWH ::




Custom Search