with the terms and conditions of the supply and purchase agreement between the Supplier and the
Customer.
An arrow represents a process, which is an interactive relationship between two function objects.
For example: process (6) manifests as the relationship between the Contract function and the
Distribution function and is named Connection Authorization.
(6)
(Connection Authorization)
The dot on the arrow represents the causal starting point of the process and the head represents
the conclusive end point of the process. For example: process (3) is started by the Contract
function and results in the establishment of a customer account within the Accounting function,
which is the conclusive end of process (3).
(3)(3)
A system state box represents a particular condition that a function enters into when a given
event in the system causes it to do so. Such a condition is then a pre-requisite before other related
events may be initiated. For example: process (1) and (2) are both required to instantiate a state in
the Contract function, from which processes (3), (4), (5) and (6) may be started.
(system state box)
(1)(2) (3),(4)(5)(6).
A begin state circle simply represents a starting point for a process that does not require a prior
condition in order for it to start. For example: processes (1) and (2) may start at any time under the
volition of the Supplier or the Customer.
begin state circle
(1)(2)
An end state circle represents a condition of a function that does not cause any further events in
the system and is the logical conclusion of a process. For example: process (18) ends at the
Settlement function when the receipted payments from customers are handed to the supplier and
there are hence no further actions to be taken from that point.
(end state circle)
(18)Settlement
Between the business functions and the support functions there is a common system
state(horizontal bar) that joins all the functions (1 to 17), and which serves to signify that the
support functions have a relationship with each of the business functions by means of the
support processes. However, each of the support functions in turn also has a relationship with the
other support functions by means of the support processes.
(common system state)
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For example: the Time function serves the Accounting function with time information for controlling
its time-based tariff schedules and also serves the Recording function with date and time
information for tagging the data records where applicable.