If you are interested in topics related to business process modeling with BPMN, you may check white papers I’ve authored for Orbus Software.
And here are the abstracts of the whitepapers.
Modeling transactions with BPMN 2.0
Do you need to model business translations in a standardized way? Check this white paper!
Similar to databases, transactions may also occur in business processes. The difference between database transactions and business process transactions is in the corresponding implementations. Database transactions are usually implemented with “two-phase commit protocol” which requires almost immediate execution of transactional activities. On the other hand, a business process can be executed over several days or even months and this requires another transaction handling. This white paper focuses on business transactions and their modeling with BPMN 2.0. |PDF|
BPMN 2.0 Task types explained
Process tasks may be performed in different ways. Here is a standardized solution!
This white paper presents BPMN 2.0 Task types and explains them with illustrative examples. BPMN 2.0 Tasks are differentiated by their attributes, behavior and performers. These Task’s specifics are graphically annotated with icons within the Task element. |PDF|
Understanding BPMN Connections
Is it allowed to connect these two BPMN elements? Here is the answer!
This white paper focuses on representing the syntax and semantics of using different types of BPMN 2.0 connections. Basically there are four main types of BPMN connections. The most common are Sequence flows, which represent the sequence of execution of activities in a business process diagram. The flow of data in a business process diagram is represented with Data associations. In case of collaborative processes, Message flows need to be used to synchronize two participants and show the flow of messages between them. And finally Associations are used to associate Artefacts with other BPMN graphical elements. |PDF|
Workflow Patterns and BPMN
An introduction into common workflow behavior!
This article presents workflow patterns, which are a specialized form of design patterns, dedicated to solve the recurrent problems in the development of workflow applications and process engines. Workflow patterns are commonly classified into four categories: control-flow, data, resource, and exception handling. Most common are control-flow patterns, which capture aspects related to control-flow dependencies between various tasks. In this white paper eight different control flow patterns were presented, each belonging to different control-flow pattern sub-category. The patterns are represented as BPMN diagrams. |PDF|
Process maturity and BPMN
Can you evaluate business process maturity?
This white paper presents the importance of business processes, and their management, for the success of a company. A generic process maturity model is presented, which consists of six process maturity stages. In line with individual process maturity stages, the importance and role of BPMN models and supporting tools is presented. |PDF|
Core principles behind successful business process management
Why should you manage processes?
In this white paper, the four basic BPM principles, which leverage the success of BPM, are presented. The first principle states that business processes are organizational assets that are central for creating value for customers. Since processes are organizational assets, they have to be managed as any other organizational assets. So, the second BPM principle states that by measuring, monitoring, controlling, and analyzing business processes, a company can deliver consistent value to customers and has the basis for process improvement. The third principle states that while business processes are central to an organization’s value creation, a company needs to continuously improve its processes. The fourth principle states that by using IT, BPM improves its efficiency and effectiveness, so IT can be treated as an essential BPM enabler. The role of BPMN in supporting the core BPM principles is essential. BPMN enables to visually represent processes, it simplifies IT support for BPM and accelerates the continual process improvement through the interrelation of different BPM phases based on process models. |PDF|
Gregor Polančič 