Process Model
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A Process Model is a structured model that describes a process (at the type level, providing a template for its various process instances).
- AKA: Workflow Model, Process Template, Workflow.
- Context:
- It can (typically) define Process Steps through workflow definition.
- It can (typically) establish Process Flows through step sequence.
- It can (typically) specify Decision Points through workflow condition.
- It can (typically) manage Process Loops through iteration control.
- It can (typically) coordinate Process Parallelism through concurrent execution.
- It can (often) support Process Analysis through performance measurement.
- It can (often) enable Process Optimization through efficiency improvement.
- It can (often) ensure Process Compliance through requirement verification.
- It can (often) facilitate Process Integration through system connection.
- ...
- It can range from being a Natural Process Model to being a Designed Process Model, depending on its process origin.
- It can range from being a Descriptive Process Model to being a Prescriptive Process Model, depending on its model purpose.
- It can range from being a Simple Process Model to being a Complex Process Model, depending on its process complexity.
- It can range from being a Manual Process Model to being an Automated Process Model, depending on its automation level.
- It can range from being a Sequential Process Model to being a Parallel Process Model, depending on its execution pattern.
- It can range from being a General Process Model to being a Domain-Specific Process Model, depending on its application scope.
- It can range from being a High-Level Process Model to being a Low-Level Process Model, depending on its abstraction level.
- It can range from being a Single-Domain Process Model to being a Cross-Domain Process Model, depending on its domain coverage.
- ...
- Examples:
- Enterprise Process Models, such as:
- Domain-Specific Process Models, such as:
- IT Process Models, such as:
- Engineering Process Models, such as:
- Development Process Models, such as:
- Industry Process Models, such as:
- ...
- Counter-Examples:
- Process Instance, which implements rather than defines a process.
- Meta-Process Model, which models process creation rather than processes.
- Process Mining Result, which analyzes rather than prescribes processes.
- Process Documentation, which describes rather than models processes.
- See: Process Architecture, Business Process Management, Workflow Pattern, Process Mining, Model Verification, Process Simulation, Process Analysis.
References
2024-12-01
- Perplexity.ai
- Question: What is a Process Model in its broadest sense? Please explain its key components, applications, and various modeling techniques used. Also cover different types of process models (from descriptive to prescriptive) and their implementation considerations.
- Answer: A Process Model is a graphical representation that documents and visualizes workflows, business activities, and their relationships to support understanding, analysis, and optimization.
- Core Components:
- Basic Elements:
- Activities and their relationships.
- Decision points and alternative paths.
- Timeline specifications for steps.
- Resources and systems involved.
- Documentation Features:
- Glossary of terms and definitions.
- Explanatory text for diagram elements.
- Detailed specifications of requirements.
- Interaction patterns between activities.
- Basic Elements:
- Model Types:
- Descriptive Models:
- Examine past events and current patterns.
- Use statistical analysis for insights.
- Identify meaningful trends.
- Predictive Models:
- Analyze historical data for forecasting.
- Employ machine learning.
- Enable data-driven planning.
- Prescriptive Models:
- Provide specific recommendations.
- Quantify decision effects.
- Generate optimal solutions.
- Descriptive Models:
- Modeling Techniques:
- Applications and Benefits:
- Business Operations:
- Document existing processes.
- Train new employees.
- Identify optimization opportunities.
- Process Improvement:
- Analyze business workflows.
- Ensure regulatory compliance.
- Standardize organizational processes.
- Business Operations:
- Implementation Considerations:
- Development Process:
- Assemble analytical team.
- Gather reference materials.
- Create skeleton model.
- Conduct expert reviews.
- Data Requirements:
- Collect system logs.
- Document processes.
- Conduct employee interviews.
- Record system interactions.
- Development Process:
- Core Components:
- Citations:
[1] https://appian.com/process-mining/process-model [2] https://irp.fas.org/doddir/army/strap/strpsec3.htm [3] https://www.ibm.com/think/topics/process-modeling [4] https://openlab.citytech.cuny.edu/principlesofengineering/2020/05/05/types-of-engineering-design-process-models/ [5] https://business.adobe.com/blog/basics/descriptive-predictive-prescriptive-analytics-explained [6] https://creately.com/blog/bpm/business-process-modeling-techniques/ [7] https://aramix.ai/en/blog/ai-models/predictive-descriptive-and-prescriptive-models/
2023
- chat
- Q: what kind of workflows are there aside from automated workflows?
- A: There are many different types of workflows that can be used to manage and coordinate tasks, and the specific type of workflow that is used can depend on the nature of the tasks involved and the desired outcomes. Some common types of workflows include:
- Manual workflows: Manual workflows involve tasks that are performed manually by individuals. These workflows do not involve automation or technology and rely on the knowledge, skills, and expertise of the individuals involved.
- Semi-automated workflows: Semi-automated workflows involve tasks that are partially automated and partially performed manually. These workflows can involve the use of technology or tools to automate certain parts of the workflow, but may also involve manual tasks that are performed by individuals.
- Fully automated workflows: Fully automated workflows involve tasks that are entirely automated and do not require any manual intervention. These workflows can be implemented using specialized workflow software or other tools, and can be triggered by specific events or conditions.
2022
- (Wikipedia, 2022) ⇒ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/workflow Retrieved:2022-12-29.
- A workflow consists of an orchestrated and repeatable pattern of activity, enabled by the systematic organization of resources into processes that transform materials, provide services, or process information. It can be depicted as a sequence of operations, the work of a person or group, [1] the work of an organization of staff, or one or more simple or complex mechanisms. From a more abstract or higher-level perspective, workflow may be considered a view or representation of real work. [2] The flow being described may refer to a document, service, or product that is being transferred from one step to another. Workflows may be viewed as one fundamental building block to be combined with other parts of an organization's structure such as information technology, teams, projects and hierarchies.
2022
- HTTP://chat.openai.com
- Q: What is a workflow?
- A: A workflow is a series of steps or tasks that are performed in a specific order to achieve a specific goal. Workflows can be used to automate processes, improve efficiency, and reduce the risk of errors by ensuring that tasks are performed in the correct order and with the necessary resources.
Workflows can be found in a wide variety of contexts, including business processes, software development, and scientific research. They are often defined using a workflow specification, which is a set of instructions that defines the steps and dependencies involved in a process or task.
There are many different approaches to designing and implementing workflows, and the specific characteristics of a workflow will depend on the needs and goals of the organization or project. Some common elements of a workflow include:
- Tasks: The individual steps or actions that need to be performed as part of the workflow.
- Dependencies: The relationships between tasks, such as the order in which they should be performed or the resources that are required to perform them.
- Conditions: Rules or criteria that determine which tasks should be performed based on the status or outcome of previous tasks.
- Loops: Structures that allow a task or group of tasks to be repeated based on certain conditions.
- Parallelism: The ability to perform tasks concurrently rather than sequentially.
- Workflows can be implemented using a variety of tools and technologies, such as workflow management systems, domain-specific languages (DSLs), and general-purpose programming languages.
2021
- (Wikipedia, 2021) ⇒ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Process_modeling Retrieved:2021-11-28.
- The term process model is used in various contexts. For example, in business process modeling the enterprise process model is often referred to as the business process model. ...
- The term process model is used in various contexts. For example, in business process modeling the enterprise process model is often referred to as the business process model. ...
2013
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Process_modeling#Overview
- Process models are processes of the same nature that are classified together into a model. Thus, a process model is a description of a process at the type level. Since the process model is at the type level, a process is an instantiation of it. The same process model is used repeatedly for the development of many applications and thus, has many instantiations. One possible use of a process model is to prescribe how things must/should/could be done in contrast to the process itself which is really what happens. A process model is roughly an anticipation of what the process will look like. What the process shall be will be determined during actual system development.[1]
The goals of a process model are to be:
- Descriptive
- Track what actually happens during a process.
- Take the point of view of an external observer who looks at the way a process has been performed and determines the improvements that must be made to make it perform more effectively or efficiently.
- Prescriptive
- Define the desired processes and how they should/could/might be performed.
- Establish rules, guidelines, and behavior patterns which, if followed, would lead to the desired process performance. They can range from strict enforcement to flexible guidance.
- Explanatory
- Provide explanations about the rationale of processes.
- Explore and evaluate the several possible courses of action based on rational arguments.
- Establish an explicit link between processes and the requirements that the model needs to fulfill.
- Pre-defines points at which data can be extracted for reporting purposes.
- Descriptive
- Process models are processes of the same nature that are classified together into a model. Thus, a process model is a description of a process at the type level. Since the process model is at the type level, a process is an instantiation of it. The same process model is used repeatedly for the development of many applications and thus, has many instantiations. One possible use of a process model is to prescribe how things must/should/could be done in contrast to the process itself which is really what happens. A process model is roughly an anticipation of what the process will look like. What the process shall be will be determined during actual system development.[1]
- ↑ Colette Rolland and Pernici, C. Thanos (1998). A Comprehensive View of Process Engineering. Proceedings of the 10th International Conference CAiSE'98. B. Lecture Notes in Computer Science 1413. Springer.