ABSTRACT
The "base plate" symbol used to represent primary activity groups in the system map was selected both to distinguish it from the "tasks" of a process map and to represent that each activity group provides necessary building blocks for best-quality system outputs. Each principal activity group should represent a coherent grouping of tasks necessary to achieve a defined value add specific to that activity group. Principal activity groups can be looked at as "business platforms" and may represent a practiced professional competency necessary for business success. The development of outcome attributes for each principal activity group also defines the scientific basis for its future analysis and improvement, because it provides a means of evaluating the current effectiveness of creating that output through measures. The outcome requirements for entire system can then also be created in view of its stated business purpose, and these requirements statements may "borrow" from, some of the attributes we have created for each principal activity group.
