Decoding the What, Why, and How of Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN 2.0)

Why should Businesses go for BPMN?

➤ It is highly adaptable to all types of business processes.
➤ BPMN allows for the effective capturing of abstract processes and detailed process flows to implement ready processes.
➤ BPMN notations and standards are universally understood and accepted by organisations across the Globe.
➤ BPMN notation is simple and can be easily used and understood by teams
➤ BPMN represents business processes precisely. It can be used to support the technical implementation of processes.

All BPMN diagram elements have well-defined meanings and properties. The real meaning of these diagrams can be interpreted with standard tools. Business process diagrams are useful tools in process mapping. Following standard notations laid down by BPMN or BPMN 2.0 helps business or process owners represent their processes in an easily readable and understandable format to all stakeholders.

BPMN notation is based on certain rules. The key element of BPMN is the visual appearance of the diagram expressed in terms of shapes and icons. All the shapes and icons must conform to the shapes and markers defined in the BPMN specification.

The specification may be extended by associating new markers or indicators with graphical elements to highlight specific attributes of an activity or to create a new type of event. Specification extensions can also include coloring an object or changing a line style of an object or changing a line style of an object, provided it does not conflict with a BPMN-defined line style.

Evolution of BPMN Standards

Knowing the evolution of BPMN standards helps us understand the significance of BPMN 2.0 standards. BPMN representation is mostly used along with other standards like Decision Model and Notation (DMN) and Predictive Model Markup Language (PMML).

DMN is a modelling language and notation for the precise specification of business decisions and rules. Processes designed with BPMN are often represented with DMN notation as well. PMML is a standard to represent predictive solutions. PMML models can be included in a DMN file and invoked as a boxed function expression for a DMN decision.

The main intent of BPMN 2.0 is to have a single specification for the notation, interchange, and metamodeling of a process. The 4 main elements of business process diagrams are flow objects, connecting objects, artifacts, and pools and lanes.

BPMN was originally developed by Business Process Management Initiative (BPMI). The first version (BPMN 1.0) was released to the public in May 2004. There was a merger between BPMI and OMG in the year 2005.

A BPMN specification document was released by OMG in February 2006. BPMN 2.0 version was developed in the year 2010, but the actual version was released in December 2013. BPMN 2.0 has been formally published by ISO as the 2013 standard edition- ISO/IEC 19510.

BPMN has slowly evolved into the de facto standard for process modelling. A major factor in the rapid adoption of BPMN is the familiar look and feel that it gives to business analysts. BPMN modeling is a powerful business process expression that can be used for communicating and interchanging the business requirements of a process and providing the underpinning of the actual process implementation.

BPMN 2.0 extends the scope and capabilities of BPMN in several ways, some of which are listed below:

➤ Formalises the execution semantics for all BPMN elements
➤ Refines event composition and correlation
➤ Extends the definition of human interactions
➤ Defines an extensibility mechanism for both process model extensions and graphical extensions
➤ Defines a choreography model and conversation view for a collaboration diagram

The main changes that were incorporated in BPMN 2.0 were: the addition of choreography and conversation diagrams, the introduction of non-interrupting events and event sub-processes within a process. The technical modifications include:

➤ Definition of the process execution semantics
➤ Interchange (XMI) and XML schema definition
➤ Interchange formats for diagram interchange in both XMI and XSD
➤ Formal metamodel as shown through the class diagram figures
➤ Extensible Stylesheet Language Transformations (XSLT) between XMI and XSD formats
➤ Reference tasks removal

The updates in version 2.0 doubled the number of elements in previous versions by taking the final element count to 116. Most of the new elements were used to model interactions between processes or entities like the new choreography diagram.

Graphical Elements in BPMN

The graphical elements in BPMN 2.0 may be categorised into 4 groups, as mentioned below:

Flow objects – The core elements of the business process diagram are represented as flow diagrams.

Connecting elements – The elements used to connect the core objects in the flow diagrams.

Artifacts – These elements allow process designers to extend the basic BPMN 2.0 notation to include additional information about the process.

Swimlanes – Mechanisms followed to organise activities and responsibilities on a process diagram.

A BPMN diagram is usually drawn from left to right using the core elements mentioned above. Let us understand each graphical element of a flow diagram in deeper detail.

Flow Objects

These are elements that are connected to form a process flow. Events, activities, and gateways are flow objects used in BPMN diagrams.

1.1  Events – Depicted as circles that show something that happens. The type of event is denoted by icons within the circle. For example, if there is an envelope inscribed within the circle, it means it is a type of message. Circles that have solid boundaries are considered interrupting events, while the ones with dotted lines are considered non-interrupting. A double line around the circle represents an intermediate event, a bold line signifies the end of an event.

1.2  Activities – Business processes that are performed are called activities. Rectangles with rounded corners are used to represent activities in a process. There could be a variety of tasks and sub-processes within activities.

1.3  Gateways – Gateways come into the picture when an activity needs to go through different business process flows. Diamond-shaped elements are used to represent gateways. The activity must be connected to the diamond and then it breaks off into two different activities in the process flow. Exclusive gateways, parallel gateways, event-based gateways, and inclusive gateways are the different types of gateways.

Connecting Objects

Connecting objects symbolise how objects are connected to each other and represent things that flow through a process.

2.1  Sequence flow – The sequence of the process flow is represented by a solid line and an arrowhead. The line depicts the order in which activities are performed.

2.2  Message flow – Message flow is represented as a dashed line with an open circle at the start of the line and an open arrowhead where the line terminates. The message flow across organizational boundaries is represented by this symbol.

2.3  Association – Represented as a dotted line that shows relationships between text, artifacts, data, and flow objects.

Swimlanes/Pool

These organise various aspects of a business process on a cross-functional flowchart. They are represented as wide rectangles. Pools and lanes define responsibilities within a business process. A pool is a unit with clear organisational boundaries to its environment. Lanes are always contained by a pool or another lane and communicate with other lanes within the same pool without any restrictions.

Artifacts

These symbols categorise activities and can be used to include more information about a process in the BPMN diagram.

4.1  Data objects – The data required by a process is represented by data objects. Represented a piece of paper with the top right corner folded down.

4.2  Group – Represented as a rounded corner rectangle with dashed lines that groups different activities.

4.3  Text annotation – Plain text that provides more information about the process

Advantages of Using BPMN

BPMN makes it easy for non-technical users to understand the notation. The semantics of a complex process is presented in an easily understandable and intelligible form. The noise communication between the process design stage and implementation, execution, and management is minimised by BPMN notation.

The use of BPMN notation benefits the organisation in several ways

Process mapping – BPMN allows businesses to define and understand their procedures clearly. It bridges the communication gap that occurs between business process design and implementation.

Wide adoption – BPMN is a neutral notation that is adopted by many solution providers. This notation provides the organisation with the capability of choosing from multiple tools available. The graphical elements in BPMN enable versatility of use. BPMN is a standard notation that is easily understood by all company stakeholders.

Wide choice of graphical elements – BPMN can be used at different levels. Sometimes, even a subset of BPMN can be used with the graphical elements to visualise processes.

Powerful semantics – The simple, yet powerful semantics that BPMN provides can be used to visualize complex process models effectively. Business personnel can use BPMN to create process models.

Flexibility – BPMN notations can be augmented or enriched by more experienced business or technical personnel.

Exception handling – BPMN modelling of an event enables exception handling, which positions it as the leader in modelling notations.

Support by other tools – BPMN notation is supported by other tools.

Workflow automation – BPMN notations form the base of process mapping. Clear mapping of the process helps in automating the process effectively.

BPMN notation gives deeper insights than flowcharts and can be better understood by all stakeholders without misinterpretation. BPMN is best suited for process analysis and design. This notation allows organisations to capture and document business processes clearly and consistently.