What's New in iGrafx^® 2007

iGrafx continues to deliver leading business process modeling and analysis solutions with the release of iGrafx® 2007. New features dramatically streamline users ability to document and model business and IT processes in support of organizational strategies and goals.

The combination of the following new features allows organizations to become more agile in understanding and managing the improvement of critical business processes:

Enterprise Modeling

Improved Resource Modeling

• Availability - Qualify resources by both schedule and availability percentage. Model periodic and unscheduled resource downtimes
• Skill Level - Acquire resources by skill level or express task duration times by resource skill level
• Resource Constraints - Qualify how and when resources are used according to user-defined rules
• Alternative Resources - Model activities where any of multiple resources can perform the task
• Acquisition Groups - Commonly used sets of resources are defined once and then referenced where needed. Reduce modeling time by reusing common resource teams

Model Infrastructure Support

In addition to modeling human resources, you can now describe how IT resources support your processes and analyze their resource contentions; enabling you to accurately model your enterprise. Define resources such as:  

• Printers
• Software
• Systems
• other infrastructure components

Model Organization Hierarchy

Describe organization hierarchy, roles, responsibilities, groups, pools, and individuals.

• Allocate resources to their appropriate roles and organization units
• Build a clear picture of the human resource structure of an enterprise
• Update swimlane names in multiple processes from the resource model
• Assign RACI (Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, Informed) cross-functional responsibilities

Exchange Resource Models

Export and import resource models using XML enabling you to use it in a separate model created by you or others in your organization

Shared Resource Model*

Reuse organization elements across multiple models. Build consistent models and speed development.

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Lean and Six Sigma

Extended Value Stream Maps

Easily create a lean view that crosses plant, divisional, and company boundaries using:

• New Extended Value Stream Maps template
• Four new sample files
• Four new line styles
• Appropriate Extended VSM data sets
• Accurate roll-up

Prioritization Matrix

Spotlight improvement opportunities with color-coded spreadsheets linked to processes and activities

• Pre-defined template to within iGrafx
• Changes to linked process activities or the matrix cells automatically update the linked component
• The priority matrix lists options as rows and selection criteria as columns. Multiplying criteria weights by entered values gives the priority ranking
• Matrix cells containing criteria values automatically display color highlights such as red, yellow, green, depending on the value contained

Enhanced Cause and Effect Diagramming

• Error rates for sub-causes are automatically accumulated to parent causes
• Hiding data in the tree view automatically updates the linked Pareto Chart
• New templates give users a fast start to Cause and Effect diagrams
• Auto-layout is enhanced with controls to specify size, alignment, and positioning

Failure Mode Spreadsheets

Mitigate failure mode effects faster with FMEA spreadsheets connected to process models.

• Create, edit, view and print a FMEA spreadsheet from within iGrafxChange the content of either the FMEA or Cause & Effect and the linked object is automatically updated through bi-directional linkage
• When creating a FMEA from a C&E, causes are automatically numbered hierarchically based on their position

Define and Scope Projects*

Identify progress towards process goals. Associate models to Six Sigma projects.

• Define projects and assign them to multiple repository objectsEach project has a start date, end date, and completion percentage
• Create reports and queries of project status across the repository

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Process Life-Cycle Management

Lifecycle Management*

Models progress through multiple stages of maturity from review, to approval, and sign-off.Approval Status Indicators make it easy to know the current status

• Approval icons give a clear view of progress toward process model enhancements.
• Managers instantly see what approvals are lagging and need attention.

Document Field Codes display repository status information within an iGrafx diagram

• The document approval status is maintained by the repository and automatically updated and displayed within the document
• Ensures that unapproved documents are always appropriately marked

Subscriptions*

Monitor work in progress and obtain e-mail notifications when documents are modified.

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Additional Features

Enhanced Linking Capabilities

Define links from shape to shape within a diagram or across diagram boundaries

• Define associations between related activities
• Navigate more easily within or across process map boundaries

Link iGrafx shapes to bookmarks in Microsoft Office documents, web pages and Adobe Acrobat files

• Describe activities with supporting documentationNavigate to the bookmarked text in your linked files instead of the first page. Link to:
1. Bookmark name (Word or HTML) Named range (Excel®) Slide number (PowerPoint®)
2. Page number (Acrobat)

Enhanced Page Layout Capabilities

Apply print settings with speed and control

• Define the page setup for all components from a single dialog. Settings include header and footer, margins, scaling, orientation, watermarks, and more.Use global settings when appropriate.
• Copy and paste page settings between components.

PDF Publishing

Easily share your iGrafx files through extensive publishing options from web and Microsoft® Office® publishing to PDF documents.

Related info: What's New in iGrafx 2007 How-To Guide