Chapter 3: Essential Process Modeling

Contents
1. First Steps with BPMN
2. Branching and Merging
3. Business Objects
4. Resources
5. Process Decomposition
6. Process Model Reuse
7. Recap
Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN)

▪ OMG standard (BPMN 2.1)

▪ Supported by numerous tools: bpmn.org lists over 70 tools
▪ Both for conceptual and executable models
BPMN from 10,000 miles…

Based on popular graphical flowcharts:

- Core set of notation elements
- Each core element has various subtypes

A BPMN process model is a graph consisting of four types of core elements:

start end
activity event gateway sequence
flow
Let’s start modeling

Order-to-cash
A typical order-to-cash process is triggered by the receipt of a purchase order from a
customer. The purchase order has to be checked against the stock regarding the
availability of the item(s) requested. Depending on stock availability the purchase order
may be confirmed or rejected.
If the purchase order is confirmed, an invoice is emitted and the goods requested are
shipped. The process completes by archiving the order or if the order is rejected.
Solution in BPMN: Order-to-cash

end
Reject order
activity Items not in
event
Order
stock
rejected
Check stock split gateway
availability
end
Purchase
order
event
Items in
received stock Confirm Emit Archive
Ship goods
start order invoice order
Order
event fulfilled

Naming conventions
• Event: noun + past-participle verb (e.g. insurance claim lodged)
• Activity: imperative verb + noun (e.g. assess credit risk)
9

BPMN core elements

Activities capture work performed in a process

▪ Different types of activities

activity

Events represent the process’ triggers (start event)

and outcomes (end event).
▪ Different types of events
start end
event event
10

BPMN core elements

Gateways capture forking and joining paths in the control flow.

▪ Different types of gateways

gateway
Sequence flows represent the order in which activities and events
will be performed.
They can be assigned a condition to distinguish between alternative
branches.
sequence
flow ▪ Different types of flows
11

Process model vs process instances: The tokens game

Order #1
Order #2
Order #3
Reject order
Items not in
Order
stock
rejected
Check stock
availability
Purchase
order Items in
received stock Confirm Emit Archive
Ship goods
order invoice order
Order
fulfilled
12

A little bit more on events…

A start event triggers a new process instance start

by generating a token that traverses the event
sequence flow (“tokens source”)

An end event signals that a process instance has

completed with a given outcome by consuming end
event
a token (“tokens sink”)
13

Let’s reconsider our order-to-cash example

[…] If the purchase order is confirmed, an invoice is

emitted and the goods requested are shipped. The
process completes by archiving the order. […]

Reject order
Items not in
Order
stock
rejected
Check stock
availability
Purchase
order Items in
received stock Confirm Emit Archive
Ship goods
order invoice order
Order
fulfilled
14

Solution: Order-to-cash

Reject order
Items not in
Order
stock
rejected
Check stock
availability split Emit invoice
Purchase
order Items in
received stock Confirm Emit Archive
Ship goods
order invoice order
Order
fulfilled
split join
Ship goods
Mapping, Abstraction, and Purpose of a Model

Models are abstractions from real world phenomena,

developed for the purpose of reducing overall complexity.

Models aggregate information and document only relevant

aspects of the real world

Models are being developed:

1. in a specific modelling subject
2. for a specific target audience
3. with a specific modelling purpose in mind
16

What’s the relevant model?