MTAT.03.

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Business Process Management

Lecture 4 – Advanced Process

Modeling

Marlon Dumas

marlon.dumas ät ut . ee

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Business Process
Lifecycle
BPMN Main Elements - Recap

Flow Objects Connections

Activity
Message Association
Gateway

Event
Flow

Pools & lanes Artifacts

Pool

Data Data
Object Store
Lane
 BPMN Gateways

Exclusive (XOR) Parallel (AND) Inclusive (OR)

• Exclusive decision • Parallel split • Inclusive decision
take one branch take all branches take one or
• Exclusive merge • Parallel join several branches
Proceed when one proceed when all depending on
branch has incoming conditions
completed branches have • Inclusive merge
completed proceed when all
active incoming
branches have
completed
Exercise: critique the following model

http://tinyurl.com/nnnfgd5
Anything wrong with this model?
Is this better?
Identifying sub-processes
Acquire raw materials

Ship and invoice

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Using the Expanded Sub-Process Notation
Sub-processes

 An activity in a process can invoke a separate sub-process

 Use this feature to:
1. Decompose large models into smaller ones, making them easier
to understand and maintain
Guideline: Multi-level modeling

• Level 1: value chain

• Simple linear description of the phases of the process
• No gateways
• Each activity chain is a sub-process
• Level 2+: expand each activity in the value chain, add
incrementally the following:
• Decisions, handoffs (lanes, pools)
• Parallel gateways, different types of events
• Data objects & data stores
• And as much detail as you need, and no more
Guideline: Multi-level modeling (cont.)

• At each level, decompose according to:

• Logical milestones towards achieving the outcome of the process
• Major objects used in the process
• Decompose until processes are of “reasonable” size
• e.g. up to 20 nodes (tasks+events+gateways) per model
Sub-processes

 An activity in a process can invoke a separate sub-process

 Use this feature to:
1. Decompose large models into smaller ones, making them easier
to understand and maintain
2. Delimit parts of a process that can be:
 Repeated
 Interrupted
Structured repetition
Block-structured repetition: Activity loop

Activity loop markers allow us to state that a task or a sub-

process may be repeated multiple times

Task Sub-process
Loop Loop

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More on rework and repetition

XOR-join: entry point XOR-split: exit point

Structured
cycle (SESE
component)

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Example: block-structured repetition
Completion
condition
Until Response is approved

Finalise
Assign Investigate
Ministerial
Ministerial Ministerial
Response
Enquiry Enquiry
Ministerial Ministerial
Enquiry Enquiry
received finilized

Prepare Review
Ministerial Ministerial
Response Response
Enquiry Response
investigated reviewed

Must have a
decision activity

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Parallel repetition: multi-instance activity

The multi-instance activity provides a mechanism to indicate

that an activity is executed multiple times concurrently

Multi-Instance Multi-Instance
Task Sub-process

Useful when the same activity needs to be executed for multiple

entities or data items, such as:
• Request quotes from multiple suppliers
• Check the availability for each line item in an order separately
• Send and gather questionnaires from multiple witnesses in the context of an
insurance claim

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Example: multi-instance activity
Procurement

In procurement, typically a quote is to be obtained from all preferred suppliers

(assumption: five preferred suppliers exist). After all quotes are received, they
are evaluated and the best quote is selected. A corresponding purchase order is
then placed.

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Solution: without multi-instance activity
Procurement
Obtain Quote
from Supplier A

Obtain Quote
from Supplier B

Obtain Quote Select best ...

... Place PO
from Supplier C quote

Obtain Quote
from Supplier D

Obtain Quote
from Supplier E

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Solution: with multi-instance activity
Procurement

cardinality
For each supplier

... Select best ...

Obtain Quote Place PO
quote

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Events
Events
In BPMN, events model something instantaneous happening
during the execution of a process

Types of event:
• Start
• Intermediate
• End

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BPMN event types
Start Intermediate End

Untyped Event – Indicates that an instance of the

process is created (start) or completed (end),
without specifying the cause for creation/completion Catchin

Start Message Event – Indicates that an instance

of the process is created when a message is
received

End Message Event – Indicates that an instance of

the process is completed when a message is sent

Intermediate Message Event – Indicates that an

event is expected to occur during the process. The
event is triggered when a message is received or
sent

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Comparison with sending/receiving tasks

= Receive
invoice
Invoice
received

Invoice
= Send invoice

sent

Invoice
= Send invoice

sent

≠
Receive
invoice
Invoice
received

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So, when to use what?
Use message events only when the corresponding activity would simply
send or receive a message and do nothing else

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 Temporal events
Start Intermediate End

Start Timer Event – Indicates that an instance of the

process is created at certain date(s)/time(s), e.g. start
process at 6pm every Friday

Intermediate Timer Event – Triggered at certain date(s)/

time(s), or after a time interval has elapsed since the
moment the event is ³enabled´ (delay)

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 Example
PO handling
A Purchase Order (PO) handling process starts when a PO is
received. The PO is first registered. If the current date is not a
working day, the process waits until the following working day
before proceeding. Otherwise, an availability check is
performed and a PO response is sent back to the customer.

Next working day

weekend/
holiday

weekday Check Send PO

Register PO
Availability Response
PO PO
Received fulfilled

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Recap: Message and Timer events
Start Intermediate End
Catching Catching Throwing Throwing

process message message process

starts upon received sent during ends upon
message during the the process message
received process sent

process time event

starts when occurred
time event (to model delay)
occurs

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 Data-based vs. event-based choices

 In an XOR-split gateway, one branch is chosen based on expressions evaluated

over available data
 Choice is made immediately when the gateway is reached
 Sometimes, the choice must be delayed until something happens
 Choice is based on a “race between events”
 BPMN distinguishes between:
 Exclusive decision gateway (XOR-split)
 Event-based decision gateway
Choices outside our control…
Stock replenishment
A restaurant chain submits a purchase order (PO) to replenish
its warehouses every Thursday. The restaurant chain’s
procurement system expects to receive either a “PO Response”
or an error message. However, it may also happen that no
response is received at all due to system errors or due to delays
in handling the PO on the supplier’s side. If no response is
received by Friday afternoon or if an error message is received,
a purchasing officer at the restaurant chain’s headquarters
should be notified. Otherwise, the PO Response is processed
normally.

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Event-based decision
With the XOR-split gateway, a branch is chosen based on
conditions that evaluate over available data
 The choice can be made immediately after the token
arrives from the incoming flow

Sometimes, the choice must be delayed until an event happens

 The choice is based on a “race” among events

Two types of XOR split:

data-driven event-driven
XOR-split XOR split

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Solution: event-driven XOR split
Stock replenishment

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Exception handling
Abortion (terminate event)

Exceptions are events that deviate a process from its “normal”

course

The simplest form of exception is to notify that there is an

exception (negative outcome)

This can be done via the Terminate end event: it forces the whole
process to abort (“wipes off” all tokens left behind, if any)

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Example: terminate event
Abort the process by removing all tokens…

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Exception handling
Handling exceptions often involves stopping a sub-process and
performing a special activity

Types of exceptions for an activity (task/sub-process) in BPMN:

External: something goes wrong outside the process, and the execution of the current activity must be
interrupted. Handled with the Message event

Internal: something goes wrong inside an activity, whose execution must thus be interrupted. Handled
with the Error event

Timeout: an activity takes too long and must be interrupted. Handled with the Timer event

All these events are catching intermediate events. They stop the
enclosing activity and start an exception handling routine.
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 Let’s extend our PO handling process
PO handling
A PO handling process starts when a PO is received. The PO is
first registered. If the current date is not a working day, the
process waits until the following working day before
proceeding. Otherwise, an availability check is performed and a
PO response is sent back to the customer.

Next working day

weekend/
holiday

weekday Check Send PO

Register PO
Availability Response
PO PO
Received fulfilled

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 Let’s extend our PO handling process
PO handling
Next working day
weekend/
holiday

weekday Check Send PO

Register PO
Availability Response
PO PO
Received fulfilled

A PO change request may be received anytime after the PO is

registered. This request includes a change in quantity or line
items. When such a request is received, any processing related to
the PO must be stopped. The PO change request is then
registered. Thereafter, the process proceeds as it would do after a
normal PO is registered. Further, if the customer sends a PO
cancelation request after the PO registration, the PO processing
must be stopped and the cancelation request must be handled.
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 Solution: exception handling
PO handling

Handle PO
Next workingNext
day working day
weekend/ weekend/
holiday holiday

weekday weekday Check Check Send PO Send PO

Register PO Availability Response Response
Availability
PO PO PO PO
Response
Received Registered fulfilled fulfilled
sent

PO Change PO Cancel
received received
Handle PO
Cancelation
Register PO
PO
Change
canceled

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 Internal exception: error event
Start Intermediate End
Error Event – Indicates an error: the ³end´ version generates an
error event while the ³catching intermediate´ version consumes it
when attached to the boundary of an activity

Must be attached to the

activity’s boundary

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 Example: internal exception
PO handling

Handle PO
Next workingNext
day working day
weekend/
Consider again ourweekend/
“PO
holiday Handling
holiday process” example with the following extension: if an
item is not available, any weekday
processing related
weekday Check
to the PO must
Check be stopped.
Send PO Send PO Thereafter, the
Register PO
client needs to be notified that the PO cannot Availability be further
Availability processed.
Response Response
PO PO PO PO
Response
Received Registered fulfilled fulfilled
sent

PO Change PO Cancel
received received
Handle PO
Cancelation
Register PO
PO
Change
canceled

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 Throwing and catching
Solution: internal exception error events must have
the same label
PO handling
Handle PO
Handle PO
Nextworking
Next working day
day Items not
weekend/
weekend/ available
holiday
holiday

weekday
weekday Check
Check Send POSend PO
Register PO
Register PO Availability
Availability ResponseResponse
Items
PO
PO
PO available Response PO PO
Response
Received
Received
Registered
Registered fulfilled
fulfilled
sent sent

PO Change PO Cancel Items not

received received available
Handle PO
Cancelation
Register PO
PO Notification
Change
canceled sent

Must catch an error

event thrown from
within the same activity

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Example: activity timeout
Order-to-transportation quote
Once a wholesale order has been confirmed, the supplier
transmits this order to the carrier for the preparation of the
transportation quote. In order to prepare the quote, the
carrier needs to compute the route plan (including all track
points that need to be traversed during the travel) and
estimate the trailer usage.
By contract, wholesale orders have to be dispatched within
four days from the receipt of the order. This implies that
transportation quotes have to be prepared within 48 hours
from the receipt of the order to remain within the terms of
the contract.
Solution: activity timeout
Order-to-transportation quote
 More on the PO handling example…
PO handling
Handle PO

Next working day Items not

weekend/ available
holiday

weekday Check Send PO

Register PO Availability Response
Items
PO PO available PO
Response
Received Registered fulfilled
sent

PO Change PO Cancel Items not

received received available
Handle PO
Cancelation
Register PO PO
Change Notification
canceled sent

The customer may send a request for address change after the
PO registration. When such a request is received, it is just
registered, without further action.

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Non-interrupting boundary events

Sometimes we may need to trigger an activity in parallel to the normal flow, i.e. without
interrupting the normal flow.

This can be achieved by using non-interrupting boundary events

Must be attached to
the activity’s
boundary
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 Solution: non-interrupting boundary events
PO handling

Handle PO

Next working day Items not

weekend/ available
holiday

weekday Check Send PO

Register PO Availability Response
Items
PO PO available PO
Response
Received Registered fulfilled
sent

PO Change PO Cancel Items not Address

received received available change
Handle PO received
Cancelation
Register PO Update
PO Notification
Change customer
canceled sent address

Customer
address
updated

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Summary

• In this lecture we have learned about:

• BPMN sub-processes
• Repetition markers: loop marker and parallel multi-instance marker
• Events: timer, message and error events
• Event-based choice gateway
• Boundary events: interrupting and non-interrupting
• Error events (throw and catch)
And once I’ve got a model, what’s next?

Process analysis techniques:

 Added-value and waste analysis
 Root-cause analysis
 Flow Analysis
 Queuing Analysis
 Process Simulation