Pattern-based Analysis of BPMN (original) (raw)
Related papers
2005
In this paper an evaluation of BPMN is presented, using the Workflow Patterns as an analysis framework. The analysis provided for BPMN is part of a larger effort aiming at an unbiased and vendor-independent survey of the expressive power of some mainstream modelling languages for process-aware information systems. It is a sequel to an analysis series where languages like BPEL and UML 2.0 A.D were evaluated. The results from the survey could both be used for the selection of a modelling technique, as well as for motivation and input to further development of any of the surveyed languages.
Formal semantics and automated analysis of BPMN process models
2007
The Business Process Modelling Notation (BPMN) is a standard for capturing business processes in the early phases of systems development. The mix of constructs found in BPMN makes it possible to obtain models with a range of semantic errors. The ability to statically check the semantic correctness of models is thus a desirable feature for modelling tools based on BPMN. However, the static analysis of BPMN models is hindered by ambiguities in the standard specification and the complexity of the language. The fact that BPMN integrates constructs from graph-oriented process definition languages with features for concurrent execution of multiple instances of a subprocess and exception handling, makes it challenging to provide a formal semantics of BPMN. Even more challenging is to define a semantics that can be used to analyse BPMN models. This paper proposes a formal semantics of BPMN defined in terms of a mapping to Petri nets, for which efficient analysis techniques exist. The proposed mapping has been implemented as a tool that generates code in the Petri Net Markup Language. This formalisation exercise has also led to the identification of a number of deficiencies in the BPMN standard specification.
Ontology-versus pattern-based evaluation of process modeling languages: a comparison
2007
Selecting an appropriate process modeling language forms an important task for organizations engaging in Business Process Management initiatives. A plethora of process modeling languages has been developed over the last decades, leading to a need for rigorous theory to assist in the evaluation and comparison of the capabilities of these languages. While substantial academic progress in the area of process modeling language evaluation has been made in at least two areas, using an ontology-based theory of representation or the framework of workflow patterns, it remains unclear how these frameworks relate to each other. We use a generic framework for language evaluation to establish similarities and differences between these acknowledged reference frameworks and discuss how and to what extent they corroborate each other. Our line of investigation follows the case of the popular BPMN modeling language, whose evaluation from the perspectives of representation theory and workflow patterns is comparatively assessed in this paper. We also show which tenets of modeling quality these Communications of the Association for Information Systems 2 frameworks address and that further research is needed, especially in the area of evaluating the pragmatic quality of modeling.
Formal semantics and analysis of BPMN process models
2007
The Business Process Modelling Notation (BPMN) is a standard for capturing business processes in the early phases of systems development. The mix of constructs found in BPMN makes it possible to obtain models with a range of semantic errors. The ability to statically check the semantic correctness of models is thus a desirable feature for modelling tools based on BPMN. However, the static analysis of BPMN models is hindered by ambiguities in the standard specification and the complexity of the language. The fact that BPMN integrates constructs from graph-oriented process definition languages with features for concurrent execution of multiple instances of a subprocess and exception handling, makes it challenging to provide a formal semantics of BPMN. Even more challenging is to define a semantics that can be used to analyse BPMN models. This paper proposes a formal semantics of BPMN defined in terms of a mapping to Petri nets, for which efficient analysis techniques exist. The proposed mapping has been implemented as a tool that generates code in the Petri Net Markup Language. This formalisation exercise has also led to the identification of a number of deficiencies in the BPMN standard specification.
Semantics and analysis of business process models in BPMN
Information and Software Technology, 2008
The Business Process Modelling Notation (BPMN) is a standard for capturing business processes in the early phases of systems development. The mix of constructs found in BPMN makes it possible to create models with semantic errors. Such errors are especially serious, because errors in the early phases of systems development are among the most costly and hardest to correct.
Representation theory versus workflow patterns–the case of BPMN
2006
Abstract. Selecting an appropriate process modeling language forms an important task within business process management projects. A wide range of process modeling languages has been developed over the last decades, leading to an obvious need for rigorous theory to assist in the evaluation and comparison of the capabilities of these languages.
Patterns-based evaluation of open source BPM systems: The cases of jBPM, OpenWFE, and Enhydra Shark
Information and …, 2009
In keeping with the proliferation of free software development initiatives and the increased interest in the business process management domain, many open source workflow and business process management systems have appeared during the last few years and are now under active development. This upsurge gives rise to two important questions: What are the capabilities of these systems? and How do they compare to each other and to their closed source counterparts? In other words: What is the state-of-the-art in the area?. To gain an insight into these questions, we have conducted an in-depth analysis of three of the major open source workflow management systems -jBPM, OpenWFE and Enhydra Shark, the results of which are reported here. This analysis is based on the workflow patterns framework and provides a continuation of the series of evaluations performed using the same framework on closed source systems, business process modelling languages, and web-service composition standards. The results from evaluations of the three open source systems are compared with each other and also with the results from evaluations of three representative closed source systems: Staffware, WebSphere MQ and Oracle BPEL PM. The overall conclusion is that open source systems are targeted more toward developers rather than business analysts. They generally provide less support for the patterns than closed source systems, particularly with respect to the resource perspective, i.e. the various ways in which work is distributed amongst business users and managed through to completion. specific focus on their underlying modelling languages . The goal was to examine the expressive power of the underlying languages and identify similarities and differences between them. During this research effort, 20 control-flow patterns were experientially derived . These patterns identify recurring, generic behaviours with respect to a specific aspect of process control. They range from simple characteristics to complex scenarios and provide a taxonomy for the control-flow perspective of processes.
2008
Business Process Modelling Notation (BPMN), developed by the Business Process Management Initiative (BPMI), intends to bridge the gap between business process design and implementation. However, the specification of the notation does not include a formal semantics. This paper shows how a subset of the BPMN can be given a process semantics in Communicating Sequential Processes. Such a semantics allows developers to formally analyse and compare BPMN diagrams.
Analysis and Design of Business Processes Using BPMN
Handbook on Business Process Management 1, 2010
In 2004, the Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN) was presented as a standard business process modeling language. Its development was considered to be an important step in reducing the fragmentation that was witnessed between the existing process modeling tools and notations. Since then BPMN has been evaluated in different ways by the academic community and has become widely supported by the industry. After completing the first major revisions of BPMN, the Object Management Group (OMG) is working toward a new BPMN standard, BPMN 2.0. This chapter summarizes some of the evaluations of BPMN and presents these together with reported experiences as well as some examples of proposed extensions and future expectations based on these.