Identifying and Quantifying Visual Layout Features of Business Process Models

Abstract

Business process models abstract complex business processes by representing them as graphical models. Their layout, solely determined by the modeler, affects their understandability. It would be beneficial to systematically study this effect and support the construction of understandable models. However, this requires a basic set of measureable key visual features, depicting the layout properties that are meaningful to the human user. The aim of this research is thus twofold. First, to empirically identify key visual features of business process models which are perceived as meaningful to the user. Second, to quantify the features into metrics, which are applicable to business process models. The paper reports an exploratory study which resulted in a set of key visual layout features. The metrics derived from these features are presented and demonstrated by applying them to example models.