International Journal of Advanced Engineering Research and Science (IJAERS) [Vol-6, Issue-5, May- 2019]

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Comparative Analysis main Methods Business

Process Modeling: Literature Review,
Applications and Examples
Tulio Cremonini Entringer1, Denise Cristina de Oliveira Nascimento 2, Ailton
da Silva Ferreira3, Paulo Maurício Tavares Siqueira4, Antonio de Souza
Boechat5, Isabel Balloussier Cerchiaro 6, Saulo Bichara Mendonça7, Rodrigo
Resende Ramos8
1 Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense (UENF), Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
2,3,4,5,6,7,8 Universidade
Federal Fluminense (UFF), Macaé, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

Abstract— Purpose: The offer of business process leads the current organizations to create and implement
modeling methodologies is very extensive, making it mechanisms that promptly and effectively promote the
difficult for BPM scholars to make a sustained choice. In development and optimization of their information
this context, this paper aims to present the main modeling systems. In fact, the agility factor is increasingly an aspect
methodologies, with applications, examples and of differentiation among organizations, for them to act
comparisons. Approach: A systematic bibliographic and respond in advance to the pressures, needs and
survey and a comparative analysis of these notations used opportunities of the market.
in the implementation of BPM projects were carried out. In this way, companies started to focus on their
Findings: According to the bibliometric analysis, the business processes in order to present high levels of
business process modeling notations most portrayed in competitiveness and realize that these processes are key
the works surveyed are: BPMN, UML, EPC e IDEF. factors of organizational success. A Business Process
From the construction of a consistent overview that Management (BPM) approach through a set of organized
allows the comparative analysis of the methodologies, in activities ensures greater control, flexibility and ability to
order to select the one that best suits its specificities it can align processes with organizational strategy (van der
be verified that, although they share the same objective, Aalst, 2013). One of these activities present in this
each notation has its specific characteristics. approach is the business process modeling that has the
Originnality/Value: This study has the main purpose of ability to define and change organizational processes in a
providing a basis for the adequate indication of the more logical and structured way (Silva, 2015).
application of studies in the area, in particular those for The offer of different types of process modeling
papers, dissertations and theses. methodology is quite extensive, making it difficult for
Keywords— BPM, Business Processes Modeling, project designers to make an appropriate and sustained
Business Processes Methodology. choice. In this sense, Silva (2015) carried out a study in
order to produce a solution to support the analysis of
I. INTRODUCTION business process modeling notations, with the purpose of
From the 1990s, organizations have experienced an facilitating the selection of a methodology in the stage of
evolution in terms of structural and technological models, process modeling, in a BPM approach by the teams that
bringing new paradigms to change and knowledge (Silva, perform it.
2015). This article aims to analyze the main methodologies of
This fact has demanded a new attitude in the personal business modeling, based on a systematic bibliographic
and managerial styles, directed for a differentiated and survey, and present a comparative discussion of these
emerging reality. In this sense, contemporary companies main methodologies used in the implementation of BPM
are gradually becoming organized in a way oriented to the projects in organizations, based on the study carried out
processes that permeate them, following the logic of by Silva (2015), with the main purpose of serving as a
them, and no longer the departmental reasoning of the basis for indicating the appropriate methodology to apply
functional approach (Malamut, 2005). BPM projects. Additionally, these results are configured
Nowadays there is an environment of high as a theoretical reference for application in papers,
competitiveness in the organizational world, this fact dissertations and theses.
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International Journal of Advanced Engineering Research and Science (IJAERS) [Vol-6, Issue-5, May- 2019]
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The paper is organized as follows: Section 2 addresses of the current Business Processes.
the theoretical framework on Business Process In fact, the heterogeneity of these kinds of projects
Management and Business Process Modeling Section 3 motivated the search for approaches to assist in the design
presents the research method applied in the article; section of high quality models at reduced costs. BPM can also be
4 presents the results of the bibliometric analysis, evaluated as a continuous, structured, analytical and
showing the main methodologies used in the BPM multisectoral process improvement, presenting several
context; section 5 contains a comparative analysis of the critical factors (TRKMAN, 2010), to which are associated
main Business Process Modeling Methodologies from the several methods that allow companies to establish a high
study carried out by Silva (2015) and section 6 points out orientation for Business Processes (SKRINJAR and
the final considerations of this work. TRKMAN, 2013). According to the Association of
Business Process Management Professionals, BPM is a
II. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK managerial discipline with a structured approach to
2.1 Business Process Management - BPM identifying, executing, measuring, monitoring and
BPM is a holistic management approach (Draghici, controlling Business Processes whether they are
Draghici, Olariu & Canda, 2012) developed with great automated or not, to achieve consistent and targeted
focus on the adoption of Information Technology (IT) results, aligning business processes with the
(Brocke & Sinnl, 2011). The methodologies, techniques organization's strategic objectives, creating value, and
or tools used, act by designing, approving, controlling, as enabling the organization to achieve its business goals
well as analyzing business proces ses involving the more quickly (ABPMP, 2017). BPM, according to
organization, humans, applications, documents and any Arevolo (2006), seeks to map and improve the company's
other source of information (Pyon, Woo & Park, 2011), business processes by means of a life-cycle approach
being increasingly used by organizations in order to composed of the phases of definition, modeling, testing,
promote the effectiveness and efficiency of their business. distribution, execution, monitoring, analysis and
In addition, according to Toor and Dhir (2011), it strives optimization of business processes, as shown in Figure 1.
for innovation, flexibility and integration with technology,
all with a focus on aligning the organization with
customer needs.
BPM can also be evaluated as a continuous,
structured, analytical and multisectoral process
improvement that presents several critical factors
(Trkman, 2010), to which are associated several methods
that allow companies to establish a high orientation for
business processes (Skrinjar&Trkman, 2013). It is worth
stressing how important is the understanding and
involvement of top management, the recognition of
information systems, clear responsibilities, as well as a
culture that is responsive to business processes
(Draghiciet al., 2012).
According to Siriram's (2012) understanding, BPM
demands a systemic and balanced view, since the business
process links the organization, resulting in a Fig. 1: BPM macroprocesses
harmonization of resources, such as processes, people and Source: Adapted from Arevolo (2006)
systems. For the author, BPM actions demand the
assimilation of a niche area, so that one can focus on the Studies in the area of BPM, approach this
critical processes, which are aligned with the strategic organizational model as a global vision of the business
objectives of the organization. and highlight the transition from a functional management
For Repa and Bruckner (2015), BPM is a well- to a process-oriented management, suggesting the
established management model for managing the life application of BPM from a systemic approach, in which
cycle of a business process, including design, execution the interrelations of the processes in their contexts are
and analysis. Haddar, Makni and Abdallah (2014) highlighted. Unnecessary and misdirected steps are
complement this definition, indicating that BPM is based eliminated and remodeled using the resources available in
on the design of a model that satisfies a set of quality the main processes (Segatto, Pádua & Martinelli, 2013). It
criteria, which is a non-trivial task due to the complexity is worth noting that to achieve the desired effectiveness it

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International Journal of Advanced Engineering Research and Science (IJAERS) [Vol-6, Issue-5, May- 2019]
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is important that BPM is not only addressed as a simple semantic quality is related to the construction of the
set of IT tools, but rather as an environment in which a model and addresses the correct use of the modeling
process-oriented view and the media requires the language and the extent to which the model truly
organization of the business as a whole (Cho & Lee, represents real-world behavior, respectively. In addition,
2011). For this, it is necessary to have a well-organized pragmatic quality addresses the extent to which a model
team (Neubauer, 2009), to have knowledge of processes supports its use for purposes such as understanding the
in their individual or collective form (Seethamraju, 2012), behavior and development of the system. For the different
and a good selection of crucial processes (Cho & Lee, aspects that constitute a business process to be captured, it
2011). Finally, it is observed that in order to understand is necessary to use methodologies, techniques and
the operation of the processes and what the existing types, standards of process modeling (Cull & Eldabi, 2010).
it is essential to determine how they should be managed in Some of the available techniques are: Business Process
order to obtain the best result (Siriram, 2012). Thus, in Modeling Notation (BPMN),Cognition enhanced Natural
order to reproduce an organizational structure by language Information Analysis Method (CogNIAM),
processes, it is necessary to have a defined scenario of the Extended Business Modeling Language(xBML), Event-
company through the mapping of activities, rules and driven Process Chain (EPC), Integration DEFinition
relationships that make up the processes, as well as an (IDEF); Unified Modeling Language (UML), Petri Nets,
adequate business process modeling methodology. Rapid Application Development(RAD), among others
(Toor & Dhir, 2011).
2.2 Business Process Modeling Process modeling methodologies are a set of graphical
Process modeling is an activity of representing the constructs and rules for how to combine such
processes of an organization that allows the analysis of its elaborations. In this universe of methodologies of
current form so that it is improved in the future (Toor & business process modeling, there are very simple to
Dhir, 2011) since organizations need to understand them extremely sophisticated languages. For Georges (2010),
(Rub & Issa, 2012) in order to be able to improve them. A the most sophisticated methodologies of business process
modeling is useful for describing and graphing the modeling are those aimed at the development of
important aspects of a given process, distinguishing information systems whether these transactional systems,
people, departments, and the link between them (Climent, supervisory systems or workflow management systems.
Mula & Hernández, 2009) in order to portray them or to In subsequent sections will be described the main
represent them adequately, emphasizing the aspects that methodologies for representation of business process
need to be communicated and treated (Vergidis, Turner & models, raised through bibliometric research.
Tiwari, 2008).
In general, the process modeling aims to describe III. RESEARCH METHOD: BIBLIOMETRIC
characteristics of business processes, showing its ANALYSIS
structure, the sequence of activities and their relations, the For the definition of the main methodologies of
resources used, among others . This is an important tool business process modeling, the bibliometric revision
for understanding and analyzing processes (Rub & Issa, research method proposed by Marasco (2008) was used.
2012) and has been widely used by organizations to For the composition of the bibliographic portfolio, the
document and improve their operations (Smirnovet al., Scopus database was defined.
2012). Research was carried out in journals without temporal
For Silveira, Cruz and Schmitz (2016), process delimitation of published studies. The total amount of
modeling has been developed as a technology to describe works found in this database was a result of the keyword
processes such that they can be understood and developed combinations searched in the titles and abstracts. In the
with greater transparency. step of defining the keywords for the bibliographic
Through this modeling it is possible to plan, create review, the keywords "Business Process Modeling" AND
procedures and document them in a consistent way, "Business Process Management" or "BPM" were used, as
making it possible to demonstrate the reality of the shown in Figure 2.
company and make changes according to the desired Fig. 2: Keywords of bibliometric research
future situation (LEOPOLD; MENDLING; GÜNTHER, Business Process Business Process
2016). Management Modeling
According to Pinggera et al. (2015), real “Business Process AND “Business Process
process models present a wide range of problems that Management” Modeling”
converge to the syntactic, semantic and pragmatic quality “BPM”
dimensions of a model. For the authors, the syntactic and Source: Elaborated by the author (2019)

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The works found with these two combinations of
terms were mostly chapters of journals, books, norms and
articles of congress, in which the results of the
bibliometric revision will be presented. Thus, 243 papers
were obtained.

IV. MAIN BUSINESS PROCESS MODELING

METHODOLOGIES
The origin of the term Business Process Modeling
emerged in 1967 in a paper by S. Williams entitled
"Business Process Modeling Improves Administrative
Control," published in Automation Journal (WILLIAMS,
1967). Since then, this term has gained momentum and a
very large number of methodologies and business process
modeling languages have emerged (GEORGES, 2010).
In the beginning, business process modeling was done Fig. 3: Business Process Modeling Methodologies
using flow and data representation languages from other addressed in articles in the Scopus database
areas, such as flowcharts, flow control diagrams and Source: Elaborated by the author (2019)
PERT (Program Evaluation and Review Technique)
diagrams. Such process modeling languages, which were In the following subtopics, the main methodologies raised
developed in the first half of the twentieth century, were from the bibliometric review applied in this study will be
not enough to model all the aspects necessary for the discussed, highlighting works present in the scientific
development and deployment of information systems , literature with the application of such notations.
emerging the need for the development of more elaborate
business process modeling languages that could represent 4.1 Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN)
the different aspects necessary for the development and BPMN is the largest and most widely accepted
implantation of information systems. Considering methodology for business process modeling (Pavani &
Business Process Management as the fundamental object Scucuglia, 2011). It is the result of an agreement between
of this review, the Business Process Modeling several companies of modeling tools, which had their own
Methodologies most discussed in the articles collected in notations, with the purpose of creating a unique and
the Scopus database from the bibliometric revision are standard language for business process modeling capable
BPMN, UML, EPC and IDEF. The BPMN methodology of facilitating the understanding and training of the end
stands out for being present in about 55% of these user (Almeida, 2009).
published works, as shown in Figure 3, followed by UML BPMN is a set of graphical conventions to describe
(21%), EPC (12%) and IDEF (7%), other methodologies business processes, specifically designed to coordinate the
are about 5%. The results of a survey conducted by sequence of processes and the exchange of messages
Kocbek et al. (2015) also showed that BPMN is the between processes. Zhang, Liang, Shi and Ma (2012)
default language in the proces s modeling field. agree with this idea by emphasizing that BPMN
represents processes in a standardized way, facilitating the
understanding of the organization's stakeholders and
employees.
According to Rachdi, En-Nouaary and Dahchour
(2016), BPMN is an emerging modeling method that has
received much interest and support from academia and
industry as an open standard for Business Process
Modeling. In addition to being one of the latest modeling
notations standardized by OMG (Object Management
Group) and BPMI (Business Process Management
Initiative), BPMN is considered easy to use for all
stakeholders of the organization (managers, analysts,
developers, etc.) (KOCBEK et al., 2015) and allows to
model a business process with a single type of Business
Process Diagram (BPD), avoiding the fragmentation of

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the problem inherent in other modeling languages such as (Onggo et al., 2018), manufacturing (Witsch & Vogel-
UML. Heuser, 2012), offshore (Joschka et al., 2015) (Petrasch &
BPMN notation is used to model the current state Hentschke, 2016), educational (Strȋmbei, Dospinescu,
of processes called AS-IS (current state). Process Strainu, & Nistor, 2016), e-commerce (Bukhsh, Van
simulations are performed with the features that the Sinderen, Klaas & Barratel, 2017), service (Geiger, Harrer
notation offers, they allow to automate the activities in a & Lenhard, 2016), etc.
simple and quick way with the control through visual Joschka et al. (2015) described a holistic approach to
indicators, thus generating a proposed model with O & M processes in the field of offshore wind farm power
improvements known as TO-BE (future-state) generation. The acquisition and visualization of the
(SCHERUHN; VON ROSING; FALLON, 2015). process is performed by a risk analysis of all relevant
The BPMN notation is based on four large aggregates processes. From then on, a tool was designed, which is
of symbolic elements for the representation of processes: able to model the processes defined in a BPMN notation,
the connection objects; flow objects; swimlanes or sting as well as connect and simulate them. n addition, the
rays; and artifacts. Through these categories it is possible notation was enriched with new elements, representing
to find the representative elements of events, activities, other relevant factors that could only be displayed with a
roles, workflows, etc. (Chiarello, Emer & Neto, 2014). much greater effort.
Among the most recent papers are publications that Figure 4 shows the return trip process modeling by
apply BPMN methodology in the following areas: health personnel transfer vessel.

Fig. 4: Modeling of return journey process by personnel transfer vessel

Source: Joschko et al. (2015)

Strȋmbei et al. (2016) provided a new view on universities in the United States and Central Europe. The
corporate modeling in the context of BPMN and the authors present 4 realistic and complex systems:
university area. This study reveals a specific BPMN curriculum and study programs, student admission,
approach in the context of university information systems, student routing, student exchange. Figure 5 shows BPMN
based on a comparative analysis of some representative modeling for the student exchange process.

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Fig. 5: BPMN modeling for the student exchange process

Source: Strȋmbei et al. (2016)

4.2 Unified Modeling Language (UML) education (De Lope& Medina-Medina, 2016), health
According to Torres (2011), the UML arose from the (Ferrante, Bonacina& Pinciroli, 2013), industry (Latif,
union of three modeling methodologies: The Booch’s Nadeem& Lee, 2011), services (Zheng, Feng & Zhao,
method, the Object Modeling Technique method - 2014), e-commerce (Maman, Sugiarti & Kumaladewi,
Jacobson's OMT and the Object-Oriented Software 2017), etc stand out.
Engineering method - Rumbaugh's. Ferrante et al. (2013) performed the post-stroke
This technique was developed with the purpose of rehabilitation process modeling. In healthcare
being a graphical notation for the analysis, specification, organizations where rehabilitation procedures are
construction and documentation of software development provided for stroke patients, It becomes necessary greater
support. The main challenge in the development phase of detail in relation to the workflow. The proposed model,
this notation was to create a standardized language with a implemented in UML, is based on international guidelines
unique semantics to be able to represent systems of and has been refined following the clinical pathway
different levels of complexity (Geambasu, 2012). For adopted locally by a specialized rehabilitation center. This
Booch, Rumbaugh, and Jacobson (2006), the UML is model describes the organization of delivery of
sufficiently expressive to model non-software systems rehabilitation and facilitates the monitoring of recovery
such as workflow, structure and behavior of hardware during the process. The flexibility of the model guarantees
systems and projects. The success of this methodology an easy update after the evolution of the process. Figure
has contributed to the adoption of UML models in several 6 discusses the class diagram of the rehabilitation process
systems development initiatives, which include of the study in question.
requirements approaches that use business process
information often represented in adapted UML diagrams
(Torres, 2011). Among the recent publications on the
UML methodology, the works with applications in

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Fig. 6: Process modeling in UML - class diagram of the post-stroke rehabilitation process
Source: Ferrante et al. (2013)

Zheng et al. (2014) developed and designed a library capabilities and increases the degree of industrialization in
management system based on the UML modeling software development projects. The design process
mechanism to analyze a simple library management indicates that, as a software engineering modeling
system. The authors state that UML can convey language, UML has a very good application perspective.
information among users, developers, designers and Figure 7 discusses the UML design classes diagram of
managers efficiently, which enhances their collaboration book lending management.

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Fig. 7: Diagram of design classes for book lending management

Source: Zheng et al. (2014)

4.3 Event-dri ven Process Chain (EPC) methodology, very similar to flowcharts. The authors
The EPC methodology is also one of the most widely point out that the basic difference is that the EPC uses the
used business process modeling languages worldwide concepts of logical operators.
(Devillers 2011). It is a notation that was developed in Among the works based on a literature review that use
1992 by researchers from the University of Saarland in the EPC methodology, the publications with applicability
partnership with SAP, one of the largest world powers in in the following areas stand out: services (Giviani &
the production of integrated management software (Mili Argourd, 2015), supply chain(Mohammadi & Mukhtar,
et al., 2010). Like most notations for process modeling, 2012), education (Rostanski,2013), marketing (Fleacă,
the EPC also resembles in its structure the flowcharts for Fleacă & Maiduc, 2016), health (Zarabzadehet al., 2012),
representing logical and temporal dependencies between among others.
activities in the construction of business processes Giviani and Argourd (2015) mapped the processes of
(Keletso, Chioasca & (Keletso, Chioasca & Zaho, 2014). the technical treatment division of the Integrated Library
The main focus of EPC notation is to provide users with a System of São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil, from its
graphical representation of organizational processes in an acquisition to its availability to the user, who is
intuitive way that is quick and easy to understand for both responsible for receiving works, classification and
process analysts and business people (Van Wel, 2013). In indexing, tipping, availability in the collection and
addition, the EPC is the main language for the inventory of all bibliographic material of the libraries
representation of business processes of the ARIS integrating the system. For this, the authors made use of
methodology (Architecture of Integrated Information business process modeling through the EPC methodology.
Systems), which aggregates resources related to the Figure 8 shows the macro processing detail of the
business and organizes them to ensure the development of library inventory activity.
sequences of activities and tasks that produce value
(Davis & Brabander, 2007). Pavani e Scucuglia (2011)
consider the EPC a simple and easy to understand

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Fig. 8: Modeling of the macroprocess of library inventory activities

Source: Givianie Argourd (2015)

Fleacă, Fleacă and Maiduc (2016) applied the EPC authors also highlight the high impact on stakeholder
methodology to model the variables of the marketing satisfaction.
research process of an organization. The results highlight This work aimed to decipher modern trends in
the benefits of the marketing research workflow that innovation and business process management as well as
increases the value of market information while lowering business process management and provide a useful
the costs of obtaining it in a consistent manner. The diagram of marketing research process using the BPMN
graphical vocabulary EPC tool (Figure 9).

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Fig. 9: EPC modeling of the BPMN graphic vocabulary - Diagram of the marketing research process
Source: Fleacă et al. (2016)

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4.4 Integration DEFinition (IDEF) to describe the dynamic aspect of the business processes
The IDEF technique originated from an initiative of and with the objective of facilitating the survey and
the United States Department of Defense aiming at the description of information systems (Miliet al., 2010).
creation of a method that would allow the modeling of Among the publications on the UML methodology ,
requirements for systems. Its initial use was in the 70's, the works with applications in manufacturing, (Pınarbaşı,
and later standardized by the National Institute of Sel, Alağaş & Yüzükirmizi, 2013), industrial, (Kuo, Hsu,
Standards and Technology. This methodology allows to Ku, Chen&Lin, 2013), supply chain (Kuo, Hsu,
analyze processes by means of the construction of models Huang&Gong, 2014), civil construction etc (Tas,
that reflect their current functionality to design the ideal Yaman&Tanacan, 2008) are highlighted.
situation of business operation (Almeida, 2009). Pınarbaşı et al. (2013) studied flexible manufacturing
The IDEF methodology is composed by 16 techniques systems (FMS). The authors proposed an FMS design
for the modeling and analysis of systems, initially approach using the IDEF methodology. A systematic
designed to be used in the scope of Software Engineering. layout scheme and a performance evaluation scheme are
Each of these techniques is used in different fields of presented and detailed using this modeling framework.
application, however the IDEF0, more directed to Next, the proposed approach was carried out with a case
modeling business functions, and IDEF3, to concretely study of an aeronautical industry to convert an existing
model business processes, are in fact the two most and traditional production system into FMS. The objective
that can be complemented in the modeling of processes, was to find the machine and the mix of products that
although each of them can also perform individually, in reach the maximum use, minimizing the cycle time. From
particular the IDEF3 (Costin & Fox 2004). the IDEF model, it was observed that the performance of
The IDEF0 technique is capable of representing a set the FMS system was greatly improved when determining
of actions that are supported by ICOMs (Input Control the most advantageous level of the system components .
Output Mechanism). ICOM is a graphical representation Figure 10 shows the IDEF context diagram layout design
of one or more activities, which in addition to data and and performance evaluation.
information is able to describe the various elements that
are associated with a process (Mykolayczky & Júnior,
2001). The IDEF3 technique was developed specifically

Fig. 10: Modeling in IDEF: Context diagram layout design and performance evaluation
Source: Pinarbaşi et al. (2013)
Ciuriana, Garcia-RomeuaI, Ferrerb and Casadesús model that integrates process planning and production in
(2008) developed a model that can be applied later to the metal removal processes.
development of an integrated planning and programming An activity model was used to develop a system that
tool using an IDEF methodology to design an activity allows the user to plan the process and the production at

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the same time in collaborative engineering work. To Figure 11 shows the level of process planning in the
design the activity model, a wide variety of parts were IDEF model.
evaluated and processed in a real workshop factory.
Several activities have been developed in detail to be
tested in real cases.

Fig. 11: Process planning level in the IDEF model

Source: Ciuriana et al. (2008)

In the next section, a comparative analysis of the main of the most varied models, from the simplest to
methodologies of business proces s modeling raised in this the more complex;
paper- BPMN, UML, EPC and IDEF - is approached,
based on the study done by Silva (2015).  Formalism: associated with the existence of a
description and formal definition of each
V. COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF notation. That is, whether or not each notation
METHODOLOGIES has a formal definition of all its elements, as well
The business process modeling methodologies as clear rules on the use of each one;
succinctly presented in the previous sections have  Usability: aims to measure how difficult it is to
different characteristics, strong points and understand and use process modeling notation
limitations.Therefore, it is important to find a means of for both analysts and modelers. It is a criterion
comparing them in order to systematize their differences that promotes the evaluation of the ease of use of
and similarities. For this purpose, a broad review of the the notations;
relevant literature was carried out, which deals with the  Amiability: this criterion is concerned with the
characterization of business process modeling importance of the graphic aspect of the notation
methodologies. Different authors use different criteria to used, that is, one should look for a notation that
evaluate methodologies of process modeling, although is not very complex in relation to the elements
some criteria tend to be more or less universal (Silva, and relations between them;
2015), which are:  Legibility: it is understood as the ease of
 Expressivity: it tries to evaluate the language as interpreting processes by all stakeholders, such
to its capacity of representation, being for this as business analysts, technical and non-technical
reason a criterion specially focused on the modelers of these processes, as well as the
elements of each notation in order to verify if organization's own management;
these elements serve all the purposes and needs

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International Journal of Advanced Engineering Research and Science (IJAERS) [Vol-6, Issue-5, May- 2019]
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 Flexibility: the presence of graphical elements (2015) in the specific literature, the criterion of
that allow a high level of flexibility and give "Expressivity of languages" is the one that has received
several modeling alternatives is a privileged the most attention by the authors. In this way, it is verified
factor for some modelers; that the capacities of the methodologies raised allow to
 Support Tools: verifies that the chosen language represent the most diverse organizational situations,
has a variety of solutions to support its whether in behavioral, functional, structural or
implementation; informational terms.
 Universality: in choosing a particular process The criteria "Formalism", "Usability", "Readability"
modeling notation, it analyzes whether the and "Purpose" were also related to the functionalities of
notation is sufficiently recognized in a the four methodologies raised in this study.
comprehensive universe, presuming some The criteria "Formalism", "Us ability", "Readability"
benefits such as greater support from a and "Purpose" were also related to the functionalities of
community of active use or greater proximity to the four methodologies raised in this study.
the user and the developer; The BPMN stood out as the only methodology to
 Purpose: In a study of the choice of modeling present the criteria "Friendliness" and "Flexibility". Thus,
notation to adopt, it is very important to it is observed that such methodology presents a
understand what is intended to be done with the graphically pleasant notation that can help the work of the
final models, it is necessary for the language to users, facilitating the identification of the desired and
allow the automation and execution of the necessary elements to face the expected result for the final
processes or only to perform analyzes and model; and allows a high level of flexibility and offers
manipulations on the processes, for example. various modeling alternatives for users.
Finally, it should be noted that the BPMN, UML and
Based on systematic analytical studies by authors of EPC methodologies present the criteria "Supporting tools"
the reading of the specialty of business process modeling, and "Universality", according to the literature (Silva,
Silva (2015) listed such works in each of the comparative 2015) on business process modeling methodologies. Thus
criteria mentioned above, in order to highlight the these three notations present a multiplicity of solutions to
characterization of business process modeling support their implementation and have several widely
methodologies. Figure 12 shows an adapted version of used software packages that allow the business process
Silva (2015) of the characteristics of each one of the analyst to have a professional tool and tested by the most
methodologies raised in this study. varied organizations; and are also sufficiently recognized
in the business community, academic and in terms of
Criterion BPMN UML EPC IDEF market disclosure.
Expressivity x x x x
VI. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS
Formalism x x x x The main objective of this paper was to present, based
Usability x x x x on theoretical references, a review regarding the main
methodologies of business process modeling, from the
Amiability x systematic bibliographic survey in this area of study and
the discussion of the comparative analysis of such
Legibility x x x x
methodologies.
Flexibility x It is worth highlighting that the use of a process
modeling methodology for the documentation of business
Support x x x
processes has many advantages, generally related to
Tools
techniques and standards, created exclusively to support
Universality x x x
business process design and aimed at optimizing the
Purpose x x x x modeling task processes. For a better performance in this
area of process modeling it was clear that the use of a
Fig. 12: Evaluation criteria of business process modeling specific methodology for this purpose is crucial.
methodologies. Thus, according to bibliometric research, BPMN,
Source: Elaborated by the author (2019) UML, EPC and IDEF are highlighted as the most
portrayed business process modeling methodologies in the
Based on the study of systematization of the analysis papers surveyed: Among the articles in the Scopus
of the comparative criteria mentioned, performed by Silva database, it was verified that BPMN stands out for being

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International Journal of Advanced Engineering Research and Science (IJAERS) [Vol-6, Issue-5, May- 2019]
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present in most of these published works, and these Process Management Journal, vol. 17 n. 2, pp. 357-
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