Business process modeling
Business processes are a structured sequence of tasks that are grouped, helping to accomplish specific business outcomes. A business process modeling diagram or a BPMN (Business Process Model and Notation) diagram is a visual representation of a business process.
The business process modeling diagram shows how a business process operates. It helps to have a common understanding of the processes, and identify areas for optimization.
Elements that are included in a business process modeling diagram:
A business process modeling diagram includes the following elements:
- Pools: Different participants or departments involved in the process.
- Lanes: Subdivisions within pools that show the specific roles or responsibilities of each participant.
- Events: Indicate points in the process where something happens. Events are categorized by position — start, intermediate, end, and boundary — and by the type of trigger, such as message, timer, signal, or error. Common symbols used are circles.
- Activities: Tasks or actions within the process. Activity types include tasks (such as user tasks, service tasks, and script tasks), sub-processes, and call activities. Common symbols used are rectangles.
- Gateways: Decision points and branching paths. Common symbols used are diamonds.