Question
Prousalis
US
Last activity: 5 Apr 2019 9:23 EDT
Optional Processes vs Alternative Stages
Hello, I'm going through the online training and noticed that there are very similar examples given for use of an alternative stage vs the use of optional processes. The example used for both was when an order is cancelled in the middle of the stages. This is confusing.
Could someone please explain the exact difference between when to use an alternative stage vs an optional process?
Thanks,
-CP
Express Scripts
US
Optional Processes vs Alternative Stages
Hello, I'm going through the online training and noticed that there are very similar examples given for use of an alternative stage vs the use of optional processes. The example used for both was when an order is cancelled in the middle of the stages. This is confusing.
Could someone please explain the exact difference between when to use an alternative stage vs an optional process?
Thanks,
-CP
Pegasystems Inc.
US
(optional) processes and (alternate) stages are very different things.
process = the steps taken (things to do) to meet a business objective. For example, if I want to place an online order, there might be a Create new order process that walks me through the things to do for placing my online order.
An optional process is still a process, it's just...well...optional. For example, I might want to add a new credit card to my account. The things I need to do to add that new credit card are encapsulated in a process. The merchant then gives me the option of adding a new credit card to my account.
stage = a way to organize processes into related segments. For example, when I place an online order, the things I need to do to place my online order might be organized in a stage named New order. The things the merchant needs to do to process my online order might be organized in a stage named Process order.
An alternate stage is still a stage, it's just...well...alternate. For example, I might decide to cancel my online order. The things the merchant needs to do to make that happen might be encapsulated in a process named Cancel order, and that process might even be defined as an optional process.
(optional) processes and (alternate) stages are very different things.
process = the steps taken (things to do) to meet a business objective. For example, if I want to place an online order, there might be a Create new order process that walks me through the things to do for placing my online order.
An optional process is still a process, it's just...well...optional. For example, I might want to add a new credit card to my account. The things I need to do to add that new credit card are encapsulated in a process. The merchant then gives me the option of adding a new credit card to my account.
stage = a way to organize processes into related segments. For example, when I place an online order, the things I need to do to place my online order might be organized in a stage named New order. The things the merchant needs to do to process my online order might be organized in a stage named Process order.
An alternate stage is still a stage, it's just...well...alternate. For example, I might decide to cancel my online order. The things the merchant needs to do to make that happen might be encapsulated in a process named Cancel order, and that process might even be defined as an optional process.
To help keep the case life cycle model organized, that (optional) process might be organized in a Cancellation alternate stage. You do not have to use an alternate stage, but it would seem odd to have a case life cycle (sequence of processes) that looks like this:
Primary path: Place order > Cancel order > Process order> Ship order
A more logical flow would be:
Primary path: Place order > Process order > Ship order
Alternate path: Cancel order
Does this help clarify the difference?
eddie