Collaborative Business Process Modeling Research Articles

An investigation of the relationship between joint visual attention and product quality in collaborative business process modeling: a dual eye-tracking study

An investigation of the relationship between joint visual attention and product quality in collaborative business process modeling: a dual eye-tracking study

An experiment in model-driven conceptual database design

The article presents the results of an experiment we conducted with database professionals in order to evaluate an approach to automatic design of the initial conceptual database model based on collaborative business process models. The source business process model is represented by BPMN, while the target conceptual model is represented by the UML class diagram. The results confirm those already obtained in a case-study-based evaluation, as well as those of an earlier controlled experiment conducted with undergraduate students. The evaluation implies that the proposed approach and implemented generator enable automatic generation of the target conceptual model with a high percentage of completeness and precision. The experiment also confirms that the automatically generated model can be efficiently used as a starting point for manual design of the target model, since it significantly shortens the estimated efforts and actual time spent to obtain the target model in contrast to the manual design from scratch.

Specification of behavioral anti-patterns for the verification of block-structured Collaborative Business Processes

Context: The verification of the control flow of a Collaborative Business Process (CBP) is important when developing cross-organizational systems, since the control flow defines the behavior of the cross-organizational collaboration. Behavioral anti-patterns have been proposed to improve the performance of formal verification methods. However, a systematic approach for the discovery and specification of behavioral anti-patterns of CBPs has not been proposed so far.Objective: The aim of this work is an approach to systematically discover and specify the behavioral anti-patterns of block-structured CBP models.Method:The approach proposes using the metamodel of a CBP language to discover all possible combinations of constructs leading to a problem in the behavior of block-structured CBPs. Each combination is called minimal CBP. The set of all minimal CBPs with behavioral problems defines the unsoundness profile of a CBP language, from which is possible specifying the behavioral anti-patterns of such language.Results: The approach for specification of behavioral anti-patterns was applied to the UP-ColBPIP language. Twelve behavioral anti-patterns were defined, including support to complex control flow such as advanced synchronization, cancellation and exception management, and multiple instances. Anti-patterns were evaluated on a repository of block-structured CBP models and compared with a formal verification method. Results show that the verification based on anti-patterns is as accurate as the formal method, but it clearly improves the performance of the latter.Conclusion: By using the proposed approach, it is possible to systematically specify behavioral anti-patterns for block-structured CBP languages. During the discovery of anti-patterns different formalisms can be used. With this approach, the specification of anti-patterns provides the exact combination of elements that can cause a problem, making error correction and result interpretation easier. Although the proposed approach was defined for the context of CBPs, it could be applied to the context of intra-organizational processes.

Synchronous gesture manipulation for collaboration and coordination of co-located Business Process Modelling

The purpose of this study was to investigate approaches (techniques and technologies) for the coordination of collaborative tasks using synchronous gesture manipulation. Business Process Modelling (BPM) tasks are often performed in teams of modellers who need to collaborate with each other in order to coordinate and integrate their individual contributions into the various process models in a co-located environment.
 
 These collaborative BPM tasks were used as a case study in order to develop the artifact (the BPM-Touch approach) as a proof of concept. The BPM-Touch approach allows for the coordination and collaboration of BPM tasks in co-located modelling teams using synchronous gesture manipulation approaches. The Design Science Research (DSR) methodology was used and several cycles of developing and evaluating the artifact took place.
 
 This paper reports on the last cycle and set of evaluations. The proposed approach was implemented in a BPM software package in order to provide empirical validation. Usability evaluations of the software were undertaken with both students and BPM professionals as participants. The empirical results of the evaluations revealed that the participants found the approach to be effective and rated the usability and satisfaction of the collaboration and gesture manipulation aspects of the software positively.

Collaborative Business Process Specification and a Mapping from BPMN Model to Service Model

To be more competitive in a market that has become more open and globalized, enterprises must integrate various industrial networks and have to open their information system to share and exchange information with partners. Therefore, the business process collaboration has become a necessity within firms. To address this problematic, we propose a collaborative approach divided on three levels according to MDA approach. The CIM level addresses the design of the collaborative business process (CBP). Several works proved that partners are not able to provide and make available the CBP. Therefore, to answer this need, we propose a knowledge-based system (KbS) that deals with partners’ knowledge and collaborative network knowledge to provide the most appropriate CBP. The KbS development is divided into two parts: the acquisition of participants’ information and the collaborative situation knowledge. The second part consists of a proposition of two ontologies, the collaborative network ontology (CNO) and the business process ontology (BPO. The goal of these ontologies is to represent and reason knowledge captured from the first step, we deduce at this level the collaborative business process model. Then, the last step is dedicated to the design of CBP using BPMN language and based on the extracted information from the KbS. In the PIM level, the CBP is transformed in a service model according to a set of transformation rules. In this paper, we will present the theoretical aspects of each step within the approach as well as the tools used to develop it. Finally, we will illustrate our proposal with a case study.

A role model-based approach for modelling collaborative processes

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to introduce a novel role model-based approach for modelling collaborative business processes. The authors present an architecture for subject-oriented business process modelling relying on the role concept and the demonstration of collaboration patterns expressed by role models. Design/methodology/approach – The authors present a literature review and they identify requirements for collaborative business process modelling. Moreover, roles are introduced as the enabling concept for collaborative business process modelling. The concept of roles offers a dynamic type aspect as a linking element to business process modelling as well as the ability to model collaboration aspects as they are central elements of social software. Findings – The authors propose a role-based approach to use the potential of social media for business process modelling of collaborative processes. The approach helps to overcome traditional business process modelling drawbacks like “model-reality...

Research on Collaborative Mechanism in Large and Complex Business Process Modeling

Large-scale and complicated business process modeling is not supported by traditional single-designer business process modeling tools. This paper investigates a collaborative business process modeling method based on top-down pattern, where the conflict issue in collaboration is explicitly accounted for. An access control mechanism is proposed and four rules of locking up are defined to restrict designers access to models. Then the locks impact on efficiency of collaborative modeling is deeply studied. At last an integrated multi-designer modeling system IPro is developed based on the above collaborative mechanism and applied to several business process modeling projects in aviation industry to validate the mechanism.

Gesture-Based Process Modeling Using Multi-Touch Devices

Contemporary business process modeling tools provide menu-based user interfaces for defining and visualizing process models. Such menu-based interactions have been optimized for applications running on desktop computers, but are limited regarding their use on multi-touch devices. At the same time, the widespread use of mobile devices in daily business life as well as their multi-touch capabilities offer promising perspectives for intuitively defining and changing business process models. Additionally, multi-touch tables will foster collaborative business process modeling based on natural as well as intuitive gestures and interactions. This paper presents the results of an experiment that investigated the way users define and change business process models using multi-touch devices. Based on experiment results, a core gesture set is designed enabling the easy definition and change of business process models with multi-touch devices. Finally, a proof-of-concept implementation of this core gesture set is presented. Overall, gesture-based process modeling and multi-touch devices will foster new ways of (collaborative) business process modeling.

An MDA‐based framework for collaborative business process modelling

PurposeThis paper aims to present a new approach for developing a framework based on a model driven architecture (MDA) for the modelling of technology‐independent collaborative processes.Design/methodology/approachThe paper suggests a new collaborative process modelling approach based on an MDA and a metamodelling technique. The research method, based on the design science approach, was started by identifying the characteristics of the collaborative processes, which distinguish them from the classical intraorganizational ones. Then, the generic collaborative business process (CBP) modelling framework is developed based on MDA approach and definition of a set of transformation rules through three layers: business, process, and technical. After that, the core component of the framework was the proposition of a generic CBP metamodel at PIM/MDA level. The specific collaboration participant's business processes (expressed as BPMN model) are generated from the generic CBP model represented as an UML2 Profile activity diagram, which is compliant to CBP metamodel. Finally, as proof‐of‐concept, the architecture of an Eclipse‐based open development platform is developed implementing an e‐Procurement collaborative process.FindingsThe proposed framework for CBP modelling and the generic CBP metamodel contribute towards a more efficient methodology and have consequences for BPM‐related collaboration, facilitating the B2B processes modelling and implementation. In order to demonstrate and evaluate the practical applicability of the framework, the architecture of an Eclipse‐based open development platform is developed implementing a collaborative business application on the basis of an e‐Procurement use case.Research limitations/implicationsThere is a need to focus future research efforts on the improvement of the semi‐automatic transformation phase from public to private processes which needs human intervention by adding a suitable interfaces at both sides of the B2B interaction. In addition, the problem of semantic heterogeneities regarding the partner's business process elements (business documents, activity/task names) should be tackled by developing an approach that uses ontology.Practical implicationsBusiness processes developers find a B2B technology‐independent solution for implementing and using interorganizational information systems.Originality/valueThe paper provides a framework that enables the CBP modelling and integrates a generic CBP metamodel. Currently, to the best of the authors' knowledge, such a generic metamodel and his instantiation have not so far been developed.

Bringing knowledge into recommender systems

Recommender systems are largely used nowadays to support collaborative tasks. However, it is important to consider each user's knowledge of the system for the recommended subject. In this paper we describe the use of user knowledge to improve the recommender system of the Business Process Cooperative Editor (BPCE), a collaborative business process modeling tool. We use the concept of the Knowledge Vector, developed in a previous work on collaborative navigation, to factor user knowledge into recommendations.We present Knowledge Vectors and how they are applied to the editor. A simulation to evaluate the effectiveness of the editor's new recommender system is presented.

Using virtual worlds for collaborative business process modeling

PurposeProcess modeling is a complex organizational task that requires many iterations and communication between the business analysts and the domain specialists. The challenge of process modeling is exacerbated, when the process of modeling has to be performed in a cross‐organizational, distributed environment. This paper aims to suggest a three‐dimensional (3D) environment for collaborative process modeling, using virtual world technology.Design/methodology/approachThe paper suggests a new collaborative process modeling approach based on virtual world technology. It describes the design of an innovative prototype collaborative process modeling approach, implemented as a 3D Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN) modeling environment in Second Life. We use a case study to evaluate the suggested approach.FindingsBased on a case study application, the paper shows that our approach increases user empowerment and adds significantly to the collaboration and consensual development of process models even when the relevant stakeholders are geographically dispersed.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper presents design work and a case study. More research is needed to more thoroughly evaluate the presented approach in a variety of real‐life process modeling settings.Practical implicationsThe research outcomes as design artifacts are directly available and applicable by business process management professionals and can be used by business, system and process analysts in real‐world practice.Originality/valueThis research is the first reported attempt to develop a process modeling approach on the basis of virtual world technology. It describes a novel and innovative 3D BPMN modeling environment in Second Life.

Knowledge-based system for collaborative process specification

This paper presents an ontology-based approach for the design of a collaborative business process model (CBP). This CBP is considered as a specification of needs in order to build a collaboration information system (CIS) for a network of organizations. The study is a part of a model-driven engineering approach of the CIS in a specific enterprise interoperability framework that will be summarised. An adaptation of the Business Process Modelling Notation (BPMN) is used to represent the CBP model. We develop a knowledge-based system (KbS) which is composed of three main parts: knowledge gathering, knowledge representation and reasoning, and collaborative business process modelling. The first part starts from a high abstraction level where knowledge from business partners is captured. A collaboration ontology is defined in order to provide a structure to store and use the knowledge captured. In parallel, we try to reuse generic existing knowledge about business processes from the MIT Process Handbook repository. This results in a collaboration process ontology that is also described. A set of rules is defined in order to extract knowledge about fragments of the CBP model from the two previous ontologies. These fragments are finally assembled in the third part of the KbS. A prototype of the KbS has been developed in order to implement and support this approach. The prototype is a computer-aided design tool of the CBP. In this paper, we will present the theoretical aspects of each part of this KbS as well as the tools that we developed and used in order to support its functionalities.

Validation of the awareness net model for the Australian security investment processes

This study evaluates the appropriateness of an existing collaborative business process model for representation of the collaboration context within the Australian security investment market (ASIM). It is an initial step towards developing knowledge-base system of a management support system for investment decision processes within the ASIM. The three aspects of appropriateness evaluated correspond to the three quality categories namely, syntactic, semantic and pragmatic qualities using the conceptual model quality framework (CMQF) which is based on semiotic theory. An interpretivist case study methodology is adopted using a combination of theory building and sense-making case study strategies. Seven in-depth interviews were conducted in order to assess the above three appropriateness measures by the actors within the ASIM whose roles correspond to those in the awareness model. The study highlighted required modifications to the concept descriptions of the initial version of the model. A modified awareness net was then constructed accordingly.

A knowledge centred framework for collaborative business process modelling

PurposeThe paper aims to present the design rationale, the structure and the use of a web‐based information systems framework for collaborative business process modelling.Design/methodology/approachBy viewing process modelling as a “problematic situation” that entails a considerable amount of social and knowledge activity in order to be resolved, a novel process modelling construct has been developed and a participative problem‐structuring methodology adapted to the specific domain. The framework presented is the result of an action research study for process improvement and has been introduced in a real organizational setting as a pilot application.FindingsExperiences from the use of the framework presented indicate that it stimulates interaction and makes participants more accountable for their modelling contributions, as well as aiding them to define, understand, document, analyze and improve business processes in a holistic manner by interacting with one another and with the model under construction.Research limitations/implicationsCurrently, the application of the framework is limited by and depends on the availability and the technical abilities of a technical facilitator, but work is under way towards automating the inter‐process communication between the system implementing the problem‐structuring methodology and the modelling environment.Practical implicationsThe framework presented can be used in distributed organizational settings for business process management through a structured modelling process.Originality/valueThe paper presents an IS framework for business process management that integrates a problem‐structuring methodology, a Knowledge Management System and a modelling/simulation environment in a consistent way.