Process Modeling Languages Research Articles

Process-Driven Data Quality Management Through Integration of Data Quality into Existing Process Models

The importance of high data quality and the need to consider data quality in the context of business processes are well acknowledged. Process modeling is mandatory for process-driven data quality management, which seeks to improve and sustain data quality by redesigning processes that create or modify data. A variety of process modeling languages exist, which organizations heterogeneously apply. The purpose of this article is to present a context-independent approach to integrate data quality into the variety of existing process models. The authors aim to improve communication of data quality issues across stakeholders while considering process model complexity. They build on a keyword-based literature review in 74 IS journals and three conferences, reviewing 1,555 articles from 1995 onwards. 26 articles, including 46 process models, were examined in detail. The literature review reveals the need for a context-independent and visible integration of data quality into process models. First, the authors present the enhancement of existing process models with data quality characteristics. Second, they present the integration of a data-quality-centric process model with existing process models. Since process models are mainly used for communicating processes, they consider the impact of integrating data quality and the application of patterns for complexity reduction on the models’ complexity metrics. There is need for further research on complexity metrics to improve the applicability of complexity reduction patterns. Lacking knowledge about interdependency between metrics and missing complexity metrics impede assessment and prediction of process model complexity and thus understandability. Finally, our context-independent approach can be used complementarily for data quality integration with specific process modeling languages.

Graphical modeling and query language for hospitals.

BackgroundSo far there has been little evidence that implementation of the health information technologies (HIT) is leading to health care cost savings. One of the reasons for this lack of impact by the HIT likely lies in the complexity of the business process ownership in the hospitals. The goal of our research is to develop a business model-based method for hospital use which would allow doctors to retrieve directly the ad-hoc information from various hospital databases.MethodsWe have developed a special domain-specific process modelling language called the MedMod. Formally, we define the MedMod language as a profile on UML Class diagrams, but we also demonstrate it on examples, where we explain the semantics of all its elements informally. Moreover, we have developed the Process Query Language (PQL) that is based on MedMod process definition language. The purpose of PQL is to allow a doctor querying (filtering) runtime data of hospital’s processes described using MedMod.ResultsThe MedMod language tries to overcome deficiencies in existing process modeling languages, allowing to specify the loosely-defined sequence of the steps to be performed in the clinical process.The main advantages of PQL are in two main areas – usability and efficiency. They are: 1) the view on data through “glasses” of familiar process, 2) the simple and easy-to-perceive means of setting filtering conditions require no more expertise than using spreadsheet applications, 3) the dynamic response to each step in construction of the complete query that shortens the learning curve greatly and reduces the error rate, and 4) the selected means of filtering and data retrieving allows to execute queries in O(n) time regarding the size of the dataset.ConclusionsWe are about to continue developing this project with three further steps. First, we are planning to develop user-friendly graphical editors for the MedMod process modeling and query languages. The second step is to do evaluation of usability the proposed language and tool involving the physicians from several hospitals in Latvia and working with real data from these hospitals. Our third step is to develop an efficient implementation of the query language.

Quality evaluation framework (QEF): Modeling and evaluating quality of business processes

Business process modeling is an important part of information systems design as well as of any business engineering or reengineering activity. Business process modeling languages provide standard ways of presentation and communication between different stakeholders. A business process model is the externalization of the conceptualization of some parts of the object world that deal with those aspects that pertain to the way business transactions are carried out and supported by an information system. This paper deals with an essential issue in this context, namely the assessment of the quality of business processes through their models. This objective raises two major issues, (a) the identification of the quality factors relevant to business processes, and (b) the definition of the metrics that provide a means for objectively measuring quality of business processes. These two issues are addressed in this paper through a quality evaluation framework, known as QEF that enables business process modelers to explicitly incorporate a wide variety of requirements corresponding to quality factors. Quality factors of business processes are defined in this paper and categorized into different quality dimensions. Application of the quality framework as well as proposed quality dimensions, factors and metrics are discussed through an illustrative example.

The Influence of Notational Deficiencies on Process Model Comprehension

Visual process models are helpful when analyzing and improving complex organizational processes. However, the symbol sets used in different modeling notations vary in perceptual discriminability, visual expressiveness, and semantic transparency; such factors are likely to influence a notation’s perception and cognitive effectiveness. In this paper, we investigate whether the basic symbol sets in visual process modeling languages influence comprehension and cognitive load of process models. For this purpose, we analyze four different symbol sets in an experiment with model comprehension tasks carried out by 136 participants. Our results indicate that notational deficiencies concerning perceptual discriminability and semiotic clarity have measurable effects on comprehension, cognitive load, and the time needed to understand the models.

Comparative analysis of business rules and business process modeling languages

During developing an information system is important to create clear models and choose suitable modeling languages. The article analyzes the SRML, SBVR, PRR, SWRL, OCL rules specifying language and UML, DFD, CPN, EPC and IDEF3 BPMN business process modeling language. The article presents business rules and business process modeling languages theoretical comparison. The article according to selected modeling aspects of the comparison between different business process modeling languages ​​and business rules representation languages sets. Also, it is selected the best fit of language set for three layer framework for business rule based software modeling.

Modeling Complex Time Limits

In this paper we analyze complexity of time limits we can find especially in regulated processes of public administration. First we review the most popular process modeling languages. There is defined an example scenario based on the current Czech legislature which is then captured in discussed process modeling languages. Analysis shows that the contemporary process modeling languages support capturing of the time limit only partially. This causes troubles to analysts and unnecessary complexity of the models. Upon unsatisfying results of the contemporary process modeling languages we analyze the complexity of the time limits in greater detail and outline lifecycles of a time limit using the multiple dynamic generalizations pattern. As an alternative to the popular process modeling languages there is presented PSD process modeling language, which supports the defined lifecycles of a time limit natively and therefore allows keeping the models simple and easy to understand.

A strategy based on LSP for the evaluation of specific languages for business processes modeling

The business process modeling presents a global vision of an organization. This characteristic allows for a better understanding of: the dynamics of the company, and the relationships that are given inside it and with its environment. Therefore, it is the best technique to align the development with the organization's goals. In this context, the role of modeling languages in the Business Processes specification is fundamental. Choosing the most appropriate language for specifying the company processes is an important and critical decision. This is because the models help to improve its performance and evolution avoiding many risk factors. In this paper, an evaluation strategy of business process modeling languages based in LSP is proposed. The main goal is to provide companies with a framework for the selection of the best business process modeling languages.

Modeling and enforcing secure object flows in process-driven SOAs: an integrated model-driven approach

In this paper, we present an integrated model-driven approach for the specification and the enforcement of secure object flows in process-driven service-oriented architectures (SOA). In this context, a secure object flow ensures the confidentiality and the integrity of important objects (such as business contracts or electronic patient records) that are passed between different participants in SOA-based business processes. We specify a formal and generic metamodel for secure object flows that can be used to extend arbitrary process modeling languages. To demonstrate our approach, we present a UML extension for secure object flows. Moreover, we describe how platform-independent models are mapped to platform-specific software artifacts via automated model transformations. In addition, we give a detailed description of how we integrated our approach with the Eclipse modeling tools.

Modeling Suspension and Continuation of a Process

This work focuses on difficulties an analyst encounters when modeling suspension and continuation of a process in contemporary process modeling languages. As a basis there is introduced general lifecycle of an activity which is then compared to activity lifecycles supported by individual process modeling languages. The comparison shows that the contemporary process modeling languages cover the defined general lifecycle of an activity only partially. There are picked two popular process modeling languages and there is modeled real example, which reviews how the modeling languages can get along with their lack of native support of suspension and continuation of an activity. Upon the unsatisfying results of the contemporary process modeling languages in the modeled example, there is presented a new process modeling language which, as demonstrated, is capable of capturing suspension and continuation of an activity in much simpler and precise way.

Toward a Formal Semantics for Control-Flow Process Models

A number of information systems have been developed to automate business processes. For process modeling, verification, and automation in information systems, a formal semantics of control-flow process models is needed. Usually process modeling languages (e.g., BPMN, EPC, IDEF3, UML, and WfMC standards) are used to represent control-flow process models. When these process modeling languages are developed, their informal semantics are typically described using examples, but their formal semantics are not defined. Although many different semantics for control-flow process models have been proposed, the existing semantics specifications have limitations because they do not support certain desirable features. In this paper, we propose a new formal semantics for control-flow process models. We show that it is more accurate, complete, and applicable than the existing semantics specifications.

Business-OWL (BOWL)—A Hierarchical Task Network Ontology for Dynamic Business Process Decomposition and Formulation

Collaborative Business Processes (cBPs) form the backbone of enterprise integration. With the growing reliance on the web as a medium of business collaboration, there is an increasing need to quickly and dynamically form cBPs. However, current Business-to-Business (B2B) information systems are still static in nature, and are unable to dynamically form cBPs based on high-level Business Goals (BGs)and their underlying criteria (e.g., item cost, product name, order quantity, etc). This paper introduces the Business-OWL (BOWL), an ontology rooted in the Web Ontology Language (OWL), and modeled as a Hierarchical Task Network (HTN) for the dynamic formation of business processes. An ontologized extension and augmentation of traditional HTN, BOWL describes business processes as a hierarchical ontology of decomposable business tasks encompassing all possible decomposition permutations. Through BOWL, high-level business goals (e.g., "Buy”) can be easily decomposed right down to the lowest level tasks (e.g., "Send Purchase Order”), effectively bridging the gap between high-level business goals with operational level tasks and complementing currently static business process modeling languages. The design of BOWL and a case study demonstrating its implementation are also discussed.

Business Process Modelling Languages in Designing Integrated Information System for Supply Chain Management

A business process model is very germane to the formation of an appropriate information system. For a marked infusion of business processes in the supply chain, the status quo regarding the processes must be totally understood and well secured. Business activities and sequence have to be well kept and properly coordinated by predicting business procedures process from diverse views. This study examines seven BPMLs Data Flow Diagram (DFD), Unified Modelling Language (UML), Business Process Modelling Notation(BPMN), Event Driven Process Chain (EPC), IDEF, Petri Net, and Role Activity Diagram (RAD). The submissions of this study are the subject of the Business Process Modelling Languages (BPMLs) in developing an integrated dissemination mechanism and classification of modelling tools.

Analysis and Transformation of Overlapped Patterns in BPEL Process Modeling

PDF HTML阅读 XML下载 导出引用 引用提醒 BPEL 流程建模中的交叠模式分析与转换 DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1001.2011.04075 作者: 作者单位: 作者简介: 通讯作者: 中图分类号: 基金项目: 国家自然科学基金(60910004, 60873018, 91018010, 61003078, 61003079, 61133001); 国家重点基础研究发展计划(973)(2010CB328102); 国家教育部博士点基金(200807010012); 中央高校基本科研业务费专项资金(JY10000903004); 综合业务网国家重点实验室基金(201102001) Analysis and Transformation of Overlapped Patterns in BPEL Process Modeling Author: Affiliation: Fund Project: 摘要 | 图/表 | 访问统计 | 参考文献 | 相似文献 | 引证文献 | 资源附件 | 文章评论 摘要:由图形化流程建模语言生成可执行的业务流程语言(business process execution language,简称BPEL)时,对于源模型中顺序与并发结构交织的情况(称为交叠模式),传统的复制相关活动方法缺少系统分析及形式化描述.针对这一现状,提出基于工作流网的UML 活动图生成BPEL 方法,以自由选择工作流网作为活动图的理论基础,利用活的、有界的自由选择网系统的合成规则,定义合理的自由选择工作流网中的两种交叠模式,针对其中一种给出复制相关活动的形式化转换方法,并借助Petri 网的并发正则表达式证明转换等价性,说明另一种交叠模式中复制相关活动方法的适用范围.针对BPEL 流程建模及图形化流程语言生成块状语言过程中的交叠模式转换问题,给出形式化的描述与解决方法. Abstract:During the derivation of the business process execution language (BPEL) from graph-oriented process modeling languages, there exist structures called overlapped patterns, which mix sequential and parallel structures together. The existing duplication approach lacks systematical analysis and formal presentations. In view of this problem, a transformation of UML activity diagrams to BPEL based on WF-nets is proposed. By choosing free choice WF-nets as the foundation of activity diagrams and by utilizing the synthesis rules of live and bounded free choice systems, two types of overlapped patterns are defined. For one type of patter, the duplication method is formally represented, and the transformation equivalence is proved using the concurrent regular expressions of Petri nets. For the other type, the applicable range of the duplication method is described. This method presents a solution in formal representations to the transformation of overlapped patterns in BPEL modeling, and distinguishes the derivation of the block-oriented modeling languages from graph-oriented ones. 参考文献 相似文献 引证文献

Research on Conversion from UML Activity Diagram to Procedure Blueprint

UML, as an international standard, is not suitable for static modeling of the program procedure. While Procedure Blueprint is a visual process modeling language and is suitable for modeling the procedure, which can supplement the UML deficiencies during the process of modeling the program static structure. In this paper, taking XMI as a common data structure and a data exchange bridge, proposed the general transformation idea, the transformation rules and the transformation algorithm from activity diagram to the procedure blueprint. This has laid the foundations for achieving the model transformation at last.

Discovery and analysis of e-mail-driven business processes

E-mail is used as the primary tool for business communication and collaboration. This paper presents a novel e-mail interaction mining method to discover and analyze e-mail-driven business processes. An e-mail-driven business process is perceived as a human collaboration process that consists of interactions between people who may each play different roles. The notion of message threads (i.e. sets of e-mail messages that are replies to each other) is used as the fundamental building block to construct the interactions in the e-mail-driven business process. The proposed method adopts an interaction-centric business process modeling language to visualize the discovered e-mail-driven business process. The method identifies message threads from an e-mail archive, and constructs an interaction-centric process model based on the temporal order and similarity of the threads. Process-related information is extracted from e-mail header fields. A software tool, named E-mail Interaction Miner, implements the proposed method. A case study is used to apply and evaluate the method on a set of e-mails collected from a Dutch gas transport company. The evaluation results are discussed. These results comprise business process improvement opportunities for the case organization, and contributions to theory and language development.

Identifying e-Service Potential from Business Process Models: A Theory Nexus Approach

The purpose of this study is to develop a method for analyzing business processes for their e-service potential. First, we develop a theory nexus instantiation that provides analysts and designers with a comprehensive theoretical overview on various theoretical lenses that can be applied to e-services. Based on these insights, we design a method for identifying the e-service potential of business processes based on analyzing business process models. The method comprises five sub-steps: First the perspectives of the analysis are defined. Second, modeling language constructs are designed as representation of the theoretical lens applied for the analysis. Third, a set of key questions for analyzing the activities contained in a business process model is derived based on kernel theories. Fourth, the method is integrated into the meta model of a business process modeling language. Fifth, the identification itself is performed by analyzing the activities contained in a business process model with the key questions. In addition, the results are validated in a demonstration and evaluation step. We show the applicability and utility of the proposed method by applying it on a networked business process for conducting coupon promotion campaigns in a retail network setting.

Modelling a maintenance management framework based on PAS 55 standard

This article shows the process of modelling a reference maintenance management framework (MMF) that represents the general requirements of the asset management specification PAS 55. The modelled MMF is expressed using the standardized and publicly available Business Process Modelling (BPM) languages UML 2.1 (Unified Modelling Language) and BPMN 1.0 (BPM Notation). The features of these notations allow to easily integrate the modelled processes into the general information system of an organization and to create a flexible structure that can be quickly and even automatically adapted to new necessities. This article presents a brief review about the usage of UML in maintenance projects, general characteristics of PAS 55, modelling concepts and their applications in the project of modelling the MMF. The arguments underlying the methodology and the choice of UML and BPMN are exposed. The general architecture of the suggested MMF is described and modelled through diagrams elucidating the general operation of PAS 55. From this development is appreciated the operation structure of a software tool that can incorporate MIMOSA standards and that can be made suitable for e‐maintenance functions, as an alternative to the commercial systems. Finally, some conclusions about the modelled framework are presented. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Modeling process-related RBAC models with extended UML activity models

ContextBusiness processes are an important source for the engineering of customized software systems and are constantly gaining attention in the area of software engineering as well as in the area of information and system security. While the need to integrate processes and role-based access control (RBAC) models has been repeatedly identified in research and practice, standard process modeling languages do not provide corresponding language elements. ObjectiveIn this paper, we are concerned with the definition of an integrated approach for modeling processes and process-related RBAC models – including roles, role hierarchies, statically and dynamically mutual exclusive tasks, as well as binding of duty constraints on tasks. MethodWe specify a formal metamodel for process-related RBAC models. Based on this formal model, we define a domain-specific extension for a standard modeling language. ResultsOur formal metamodel is generic and can be used to extend arbitrary process modeling languages. To demonstrate our approach, we present a corresponding extension for UML2 activity models. The name of our extension is Business Activities. Moreover, we implemented a library and runtime engine that can manage Business Activity runtime models and enforce the different policies and constraints in a software system. ConclusionThe definition of process-related RBAC models at the modeling-level is an important prerequisite for the thorough implementation and enforcement of corresponding policies and constraints in a software system. We identified the need for modeling support of process-related RBAC models from our experience in real-world role engineering projects and case studies. The Business Activities approach presented in this paper is successfully applied in role engineering projects.

A framework for work process modeling in the chemical industries

Abstract During the life cycle of a chemical product and its associated production process, diverse types of work processes are performed, such as design and operational processes. In this contribution, a framework for the modeling of work processes in the chemical industries is presented which comprises an iterative modeling procedure, an extensible modeling language for work processes, and software tools for its practical application. The framework supports the iterative creation of work process models for diverse applications such as work process simulation or enactment and the subsequent export of the models in suitable application tools. Ease of use has been a key design criterion for the framework. Internally, the framework builds on semantic technologies to provide substantial support for model checking and model transformations.

Business process modeling languages

Requirements capture is arguably the most important step in software engineering, and yet the most difficult and the least formalized one [Phalp and Shepperd 2000]. Enterprises build information systems to support their business processes . Software engineering research has typically focused on the development process, starting with user requirements—if that—with business modeling often confused with software system modeling [Isoda 2001]. Researchers and practitioners in management information systems have long recognized that understanding the business processes that an information system must support is key to eliciting the needs of its users (see e.g., Eriksson and Penker 2000]), but lacked the tools to model such business processes or to relate such models to software requirements. Researchers and practitioners in business administration have long been interested in modeling the processes of organizations for the purposes of understanding, analyzing, and improving such processes [Hammer and Champy 1993], but their models were often too coarse to be of use to software engineers. The advent of ecommerce and workflow management systems, among other things, has led to a convergence of interests and tools, within the broad IT community, for modeling and enabling business processes. In this article we present an overview of business process modeling languages. We first propose a categorization of the various languages and then describe representative languages from each family.