BPMN (Business Process Modeling Notation) is a modern standard for business process modeling developed by the BPMI Notation Working Group in May 2004. BPMN version 2 was released in 2010. The original English specification was written by the Object Management Group.
The goals of BPMN are:
· Technical experts responsible for process implementation;
· Business analysts who create and improve processes;
· Managers who manage and control processes.
In this way, BPMN acts as a link between business processes and their implementation.
BPMN visualizes business processes as diagrams using simple graphical notation. These graphical elements are intuitive to users and allow them to build complex semantic structures. business users, it is very convenient to use processes represented as diagrams, and many
Analysts use BPMN.
All process models designed with BPMN are executable, not just described on paper, which means they can be run in any BPM system. A computer program converts the graph into an actual executable process that runs in real time.
The actual process of modeling and reading business processes in BPMN is a set of empirical examples that will teach you how to use the popular BPMN standard. To provide an example of the course, we use the Visual Paradigm BPMN software .
This unique course introduces the core concepts of business processes described in BPMN. This is the first lesson of this course and we tried to make it simple, easy to understand, and above all useful!
Lesson 1
In BPMN, these processes are described by a series of graphical elements. Such visualization makes it easy for the user to understand the logic of the process.
BPMN was mainly developed for designing and reading simple and complex diagrams of business processes. To this end, the BPMN standard categorizes graphical elements into categories: these elements are thus easily recognizable by users working with business process diagrams.
Any process described in BPMN is represented as a number of steps (activities) that are executed or executed simultaneously according to some business rules.
Take a look at the Order Process process, available in an online store that sells and rents bicycles.
You should always read the process from the start event.
Figure 1.1 Start Event
As you can see from its name, the start event identifies the starting point of a process; it can only have an output sequence stream. In BPMN, an initiating event is represented by a circle with an open center with a thinly lined border.
In our case, the start event could be a phone call, or a message from a client on the store's website.
From the start event, the process follows a sequence flow until it reaches the end event; a process can have multiple end events.
Figure 1.2 End Event
The end event specifies where the path within the process ends; it can only have an incoming sequence flow.
End events are represented by circles with thick borders.
In our case, the terminal event is the delivery of the item to the customer.
Note that in Visual Paradigm , start and end events are also color-coded, which is why they are displayed as green and red circles, respectively.
Workflows are visualized by various elements placed between start and end events. The core element that represents the work performed in the process is called an activity. Activities are executable elements of BPMN that can be atomic or non-atomic.
(compound).
Atomic activity types are called tasks. Graphically, it is displayed as a rounded rectangle. The most common task represents the work done by the user, which is why it is often referred to as a user task.
In our example, the Task Activities are: "Process Customer Request", "Fill Purchase Form" and "Fill Rental Form".
Figure 1.3 User Task
Another widely used element of BPMN is the gateway. Graphically, it is displayed as a diamond shape and is used to determine decision-making and evaluation criteria. Basically, a gateway is a branch point that controls the flow by splitting and merging.
Figure 1.4 Gateway (Gateway)
In our example, a customer may want to buy or rent a bike, and based on that decision, the order is processed as either a purchase or a rental. In a process diagram, a gateway is a decision point that decides which path the sequence flow must take in each case.
In the next lesson, we will learn about other BPMN 2 graphical elements and their application in practice. When you are familiar with the basic process elements of BPMN, you can read and understand even the most complex process diagrams.
Other BPMN Resources
- Introduction to BPMN Part 1 - Visual Paradigm
- How to draw a BPMN 2.0 business process diagram?
- Drawing BPMN Business Process Diagrams - Visual Paradigm
Drawing BPMN Business Flow Diagram in Visual Paradigm