Chapter 6 - Modeling Business Processes Using BPMN

Abstract

This chapter explores definitions, symbols, and syntax of the Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN). The current notation for business process modeling includes three main notations: the EPCs (Event-Driven Process Chains), UML (Unified Modeling Language), and, more recently, BPMN (Business Process Modeling Notation). Currently, BPMN Version 2.0 is being processed through the steps that will make it an OMG standard. BPMN was defined to achieve certain goals such as: providing a standardized graphical notation for modeling business processes; so that the notation can be understood by all stakeholders, from business analyst to process implementer; and that the notation can also be mapped to executable XML-based process languages (such as Business Process Execution Language for Web Services, BPEL4WS) BPMN 1.x supports one single diagram type only: the Business Process Diagram (BPD). The BPD includes an image of the business processes. The BPD includes an image of the business processes. A BPD consists of activities, events, and gateways, which a sequence flow puts in a flow sequence. Activities, events, and gateways are summarized under the term flow object. Business processes consist of work steps that require resources and are executed by organization units or IT systems, for example. In BPMN, work steps are modeled using activities. An activity can either be a task, a sub-process, or a process. There are eight predefined task types that describe the behavior of a task.