Process Model

A Process Model refers to a description how to advance business. In many cases, a diagram is used to describe it. Business Process Model.

Overview of Process Models
A Process Model refers to a description of business flow (order of task group). In many cases, a diagram is drawn "from left to right" or "from top to bottom" on the basis of execution procedure of each task. As a concept, not only Flow Models but also Data Models, etc. are included. An example of element resolution of Process Models is as follows.
 * Flow models (definition of diagram)
 * Divergence conditions (definition of condition that cannot be written in diagram)
 * Allocation models (definition of person in charge of each task)
 * Data models (definition of input/output, visibility)

The main purpose of Process Models is to describe "how to work", and Process Models are expected to be comprehensible for a number of people. "Flow Models" or "Allocation models" are very important elements, and they are described in a diagram by a notation called BPMN or EPC.

Also, the diagram is called "Business Flow Chart" or "Business Process Diagram" or "Process Diagram", etc. Moreover, a collection of data of Process Models which contain various elements is sometimes called Process Archive. The format for it varies according to the information system (BPMS, ERP etc.).

Range of Process Models
The term "model" has various meanings, and when it is used in the field of "Process Models", its means logically simplified or formalized object. By modeling events which structure is more complicated and made up with more information in real, a Process Model is used to grasp the whole, to find laws, to estimate the future, etc.

E.g., "Plastic models (simplification)", "Double helices models (formalization)", etc.

Therefore, it is necessary to judge flexibly "what elements the process model (should) consist of" according to the fact (target process) which is grasped as well as the subject (computer) which grasps the fact. As an example of elements, there is a specification called BPDM (Business Process Definition MetaModel).

Use of Process Models
"Business flow" or "execution procedure of tasks" is often changed. In Business Process Management (BPM) activity, the most important thing is to understand the active Process Models at all times, and so, Process Models are expected to be easy to edit. The active Process Model is sometimes called "As-Is Model". On the other hand, you may sometimes describe a Process Model for the future. In some cases, you may describe "flow of the business" after small changes, and in other cases, you may describe an ideal model. Such an ideal model for a system to be is called "To-Be Model".

"Individual matter actually processed according to the Process Model" is called a Process Instance. For instance, "number of Process Instances" means "Processing number".

Modeling Notation/Modeling Language
There are not only "diagram which human being understands easily" but also "text formats which a computer understands easily" as a standard by which the Process Model is described. The usage and the range differ respectively:


 * BPMN: diagram
 * XPDL: text format
 * BPEL: text format

Related Articles

 * BPM
 * BPDM
 * BPMN
 * XPDL
 * BPEL
 * TOC
 * Process Diagram (Business Flow Diagram)
 * Process Data
 * Process Owner
 * Operations Research
 * Process Instance