BPMN Based Problem Domain Knowledge Specification Method Austina Varkalaite Audrius Lopata Vilnius University, Kaunas Faculty, Vilnius University, Kaunas Faculty, Muitines g. 8, Kaunas, Lithuania Muitines g. 8, Kaunas, Lithuania austina.varkalaite@knf.stud.vu.lt Audrius.Lopata@knf.vu.lt Abstract— Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) is used to create business models; to explore the possibilities of one of OMG (Object Management Group®) product, standard- generating the BPMN model from the meta-model and to apply ized ISO standard. Nowadays BPMN become de-facto notation the activity meta-model to the specifics of the BPMN; to offer and is used to create different types and architecture levels of ac- an algorithm that generates an activity model in the BPMN no- tivity diagrams. The main point of this article is to integrate the tation and to test the options for realizing the offered algorithm. BPMN notation into the knowledge-based IS engineering process, thereby reducing the empiricity and enabling semi-automated II. RELATED WORKS generation of a more precise operational model. For this reason there is created Algorithm for the representation of the activity To reduce empirical influence of the factors to information meta-model element BPMN and detailed one element "Activity" systems development process, there was decided to use type selection algorithm. The prototype, by using Microsoft Access knowledge based IS engineering method. The main advantage 2016 program, MagicDraw 18.1 tool and interactive expert system of this approach is ability to approve specific data warehouse ES-Builder Web, tests correctly operation of both algorithms. Enterprise Model and Enterprise Meta-Model, not only by for- mal criteria. It reduces the problems and guarantees efficiency Keywords— BPMN; Enterprise Model; Enterprise Meta-model; [1]. Using business meta-model is created business process IS engineering process. model with necessary field knowledge (actors, activities, pro- cesses, functions, goals, flows) for creating software [2]. I. INTRODUCTION OMG (Object Management Group®) [3] specialize in crea- Constantly changing and expanding information systems of tion of specifications and notations for business model using organizations, is faced with the problem of displaying infor- business meta-model. Some specifications are used for clear mation flows. To reach goals of business, it might be used dif- tasks and cannot represent abstract business process models. ferent types of interconnection and graphical imaging standard diagrams and notations of business processes, functions, objects Business Motivation Model (BMM) [4] is a set of concepts, and other elements. Each method has its own abilities to inter- which show business plan elements connected neutral structure pret and submit information about organization domain of methodology. Functions are created by three basic concepts: knowledge system. Business Process, Business Rule and Organization Unit [5]. From the point of view of organizations and companies, it is Business Process Definition Meta-model (BPDM) [4] pro- important to systematize stored information as easily and accu- vides the ability to represent and model business process without rately as possible. For each participant of the activity to be reference to notation or methodology combined these different equally well acquainted with the future benefits of the infor- methods into a coherent functional dependence. It is created by mation system. using meta-model like perfect connection between terms and concepts based basic processes’ vocabulary [6]. BPDM uses Different business activities require a variety of business OMG standard – MOF Meta-Object Facility [7,8,9] capturing models describing business processes. The more research and business process by common method and let XML syntax save presentation of business process mapping techniques, the easier and transform business process models using tools and infra- it will be for businesses to select the most appropriate option for structure. them. Date-Time Vocabulary (DTV) [4] modeling the continuous, The work deals with the notation and modeling languages, discrete time, event relationships and time-space situations, lan- which help to create business models in the field of knowledge. guage aspects, time tables and graphs [10]. The main point of this article is to integrate the BPMN notation into the knowledge-based IS engineering process, thereby reduc- Business Process Maturity Model (BPMM) [4] describes an ing the empiricity and enabling semi-automated generation of a evolutionary path of development that focuses on the organiza- more precise operational model. For this reason, the following tion's movement from immature, inconsistent processes to ma- tasks are considered, such as, to study the modeling languages ture, disciplined processes. BPMM based Process Maturity Framework, which is basis widely used Capability Maturity Copyright held by the author(s). Model for Integration (CMMI) to help organizations organize repeated software engineering processes [11]. 112 The most often there are used well-known modeling lan- c) Data Outputs guages – UML and SysML or notation – BPMN. All these are d) Data Stores. OMG’s products. For more detailed information in the next sub- sections. 3) Connecting Objects. Used to interconnect flow objects with different types of arrows: A. UML a) Sequence Flows, Unified Modeling Language® (UML) is ISO standard cre- b) Message Flows, ated by OMG. UML has thirteen types of diagrams grouped in c) Associations, three categories [12]: d) Data Associations.  Structure Diagrams includes Class Diagram, Object Di- 4) Swimlanes are used to group the initial simulation agram, Component Diagram, Composite Structure Dia- elements: gram, Package Diagram, and Deployment Diagram. Those diagrams represent static application structure. a) Pools, b) Lanes.  Behavior Diagrams includes Use Case Diagram, Activity Diagram and State Machine Diagram – show basic types 5) Artifacts. Artifacts are used to provide additional process of behavior. information: a) Group,  To show different interactions aspects is needed to use Interaction Diagrams, like Sequence Diagram, Commu- b) Text Annotation. nication Diagram, Timing Diagram and Interaction These elements are used to create different level BPMN dia- Overview Diagram. grams. B. SysML Similarities and differences among UML, SysML and BPMN in the next subsection. Another OMG’s modeling language is Systems Modeling Language™ (OMG SysML™). It is the general purpose graph- D. Comparison among UML, SysML and BPMN ical modeling language is intended to specify, analyze, design Kenneth D. Evensen and Dr. Kathryn Anne Weiss [18] com- and test complex systems that may include hardware, software, pare UML and SysML: both are chart-oriented notation lan- information, personnel, procedures and services [13]. SysML is guages. UML and SysML diagrams specify types of graphical an extension of UML, so there are used basic Unified Modeling components in model. UML can be used to define both high- Language diagrams: Use Case Diagram, Activity Diagram, Se- level architectures and detailed representations. For a more de- quence Diagram, State Machine Diagram. SysML includes tailed description of the architecture, it is provided by SysML. It graphical constructions to describe text-based requirements and addresses problems such as broken down various subsystems, link them to other elements of the model. traceability requirements, and the location of arithmetic formula C. BPMN components. Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) is de-facto UML and BPMN notations can adequately model most graphical standard notation in modeling of processes. BPMN is structures. There are not adequate graphic layout layers Inter- also OMG product and describes the progress of the business leaved Parallel Routing in UML activity diagram. Similar processes to the final process flow. BPMN specially designed to graphic representation of forms for the same models. BPMN has coordinate process sequences and reports that come from differ- less basic objects. To avoid complexity in development process, ent process participants. At the same time enables BPMN dia- there need to invent variants to those objects. Business sequence grams to be transformed into components of the software devel- models are oriented to control flows between process activities. opment process [11,14,15]. Data flow is used between activities in BPMN. Activity diagram and business process diagram are very close and are represented In accordance with reference [16] complete BPMN specifi- by the same meta-model [20]. cations includes thirty eight different language constructions with attributes, grouped into four main categories of elements: According to reference [19], Table 1, there can be compared Flow Objects, Business Process Diagrams (BPDs), Connecting UML activities and BPMN business processes. The main ele- Objects and Swimlanes. In the specification of BPMN published ments of UML or BPMN correspond to the elements of the ac- in OMG website, reference [17], are five categories of elements: tivity meta-model, but depending on the level of detail of the activity area or model, the activities in the meta-model are not 1) Flow Objects. The main graphic elements for describing sufficient. the behavior of business processes: There can be provided mappings and transformation algo- a) Events, rithm from BPMN Business process model to UML Activity b) Activities, model at the later stage. c) . Gateways. 2) Data. All types of data: a) Data Objects, b) Data Inputs, 113 There compose schema from activity meta-model class TABLE I. model C elements, black color, with all BPMN elements, red color, COMPARING UML AND BPMN shown in Fig. 2. The main focus is on how the elements used in the BPMN notation complement the activity meta-model. Alt- UML Activity hough a large number of objects overlap in meta-models, such Condition 1. The starting point is defined by an Initial Node. No as a pool or lane match to the actor, the process matches the method of specifying why the Activity was started is available. function in the activity meta-model, but elements such as se- Condition 2. The basic behavior unit in an Activity is the quence flow types or event types can more accurately convey Actionelement. UML provides many different forms of Actions, although the simulation makes use of a small subset of these. the informative nature and use of the element itself. Condition 3. A Control Flow is used to connect the elements on an Assumed, that some elements of meta-model and BPMN el- Activity diagram. A distinguishing feature is that only a single control flow may be followed from any node except for an explicit Fork Node. ements match, like “Events”, “Actor” with “Pool”, “Actor of To restrict flow on a control flow, add a guard. Process” or “Actor of Function” with “Lane”, “Function” with Condition 4. A Decision node is used to explicitly model a decision “Process”, “Material Flow” with “Message Flow”, “Information being made. A Merge node, which uses the same syntax is used when Flow” with “Sequence Flow” or “Data Object”, “Processing Ac- the potential flows are combined back into one. cess Input” with “Data Inputs”, “Processing Access Outputs” Condition 5. A Fork node is used to concurrently execute multiple nodes, while a Join node, using the same syntax is used to wait for all with “Data Outputs”, “Information Activity” with “Task”, “Ac- incoming flows to become available and leave with a single flow. tivity Rules” and “Gateways”. Other elements from BPMN can Condition 6. There is no allowance for concurrently executing only partly change in meta-model or be complementary. some outputs from a node for UML Activities. If you needed this you would need to add later control flows with the appropriate guards. A. Algorithm for the representation of the activity meta- Condition 7. A Call Behavior Action is used when behavior needs to model element BPMN be further decomposed by referring to an external activity. Elements, from the activity meta-model, in the development Condition 8. Activity elements are used when behavior needs to be further decomposed without referring to an external activity. of the activity model BPMN notation, can be displayed with a BPMN Business Process certain sequence or according to certain rules. In order to reduce the empiricity of the element and its related elements, a macro- Condition 1. The starting point is defined by a Start Event. This implies a specific cause for the Activity to start, although it may be unspecified. level algorithm is created, in Fig. 1. Condition 2. The basic behavior unit in an Activity is the Activity ele- ment. A number of different Task Types are available. These typically describe different methods of execution (for example Manual) as op- posed to what happens. Condition 3. A Sequence Flow is used to connect the elements on a Business Process diagram. These differ from UML Activity diagrams in that all valid sequence flows are taken by default. To restrict flow on a sequence flow set the Condition Type to expression and the Condition Expression. Condition 4. A Gateway node set to Exclusive is used when a single path must be selected. It is also used to combine the potential flows again. A direction may be specified as Converging or Diverging to ex- plicitly select between the two modes. Condition 5. A Gateway node set to Parallel is used to explicitly model concurrent execution of multiple nodes. It is also used to wait for all incoming flows to become available and leave with a single flow. A direction may be specified as Converging or Diverging to explicitly se- lect between the two modes. Condition 6. A Gateway node set to Inclusive is used to explicitly model the situation where all outgoing flows with a true condition are executed concurrently. Condition 7. Activity elements are set as CallActivity Sub-Process when behavior needs to be further decomposed by referring to an exter- nal activity. Condition 8. Activity elements are set as an Embedded Sub-Process- when behavior needs to be further decomposed without referring to an external activity. III. PROPOSED DECISSION METHODOLOGY After analyzing the main features of the activity meta-model elements' representation and possibilities in different modeling Fig. 1. Algorithm for the representation of the activity meta-model languages and notation, moving in detailed analysis of Business element BPMN Process Modeling and Notation elements [18]. BPMN has additional objects that are more detailed than the abstraction level. Some elements are used just like explaining the main ones. 114 (a) (c) (b) Fig. 2. (a), (b), (c) and (d) parts combine BPMN elements addition to (d) activity meta-model. See the next column. Fig. 2. Continued. (a), (b), (c) and (d) parts combine BPMN elements addition to activity meta-model. This algorithm can be applied to any element of the activity meta-model, which is required to represent the BPMN notation. check is carried out and, if the condition is satisfied, the desired The basic principle is that the desired element is represented by type of activity is displayed. Otherwise, further steps are taken an element from the BPMN and it is checked that it may still until the desired element is found. The test sequence is consistent have other related elements needed to generate the activity and the type of activity is selected, the operation of this algo- model. This allows to create business models no matter what rithm is stopped, the work is completed. kind of element. Experiment is made for both algorithms. For more details in For the second step in the main algorithm, there is created the next subsections. element activity selection algorithm shown in Fig. 3. There are many types of activity in BPMN notation, so this algorithm helps to choose one of them. In each step of the iteration, the 115 A. Algorithm for the representation of the activity meta- model element BPMN realization To test Algorithm for the representation of the activity meta-model element BPMN proper operation, there is created prototype. User interface is executed using Microsoft Access 2016 program. BPMN element is displayed in MagicDraw 18.1 tool. There is given a real example “Close Auction” Fig 4. At first, it is chosen element, Fig. 5. Whole cycle of the main al- gorithm is executes – select the element, represent the element in BPMN, select others related elements, control if there are enough related elements and if the link is assigned among ele- ments. The last step of the algorithm is carried out in MagicDraw 18.1 tool, Fig. 6. (a) (a) (b) (b) Fig. 4. The beginning (a) and the end (b) patrs of BPMN diagram “Close Auction”. Fig. 3. (a) part is the beginning of element "Activity" type selection algorithm and (b) part is the end of element "Activity" type selection algorithm. 116 Fig. 5. User interface for excaple “Close Auction”. B. Element "Activity" type selection algorithm realization Element “Activity” is complex element and has many types, in different hierarchy level. Algorithm shown in Fig, 3 realiza- tion is made in internet expert system platform ES-Builder Web. The value returned by the expert system (satisfies the condition that one element is selected) is the selection of the "Activity" type element, the activity meta-model element BPMN notation algorithm is executed at the beginning, that is, when the element of the activity model element is selected and assigned to it the element corresponding to the BPMN. Expert system is in the www.mcgoo.com platform (note, it is in Lithuanian language). IV. CONCLUSION OMG-based modeling languages UML and SysML are graph-oriented, notation languages. UML can be used to define high-level architectures, detailed imaging, modeling of applica- tions and user interactions in an early life cycle. For more de- tailed architecture, SysML is used. When comparing the BPMN Activity Diagram with the UML Activity Diagram, it is concluded that these notions pro- vide the same solutions and very similar graphical representa- tions of forms to many models. The BPMN has fewer essential objects and the potential complexity of creating business process diagrams; no significant difference is the terminology. ... The elements of the activity meta-model can be displayed both in elements of the UML modeling language and in the main elements of the BPMN notation. However, depending on the level of detail of the field or model in question, the underlying elements may not be sufficient. After examining all the elements in the BPMN notation, it can be concluded that some of the values of these elements cor- respond to the elements used in the activity meta-model. In ad- dition, the BPMN elements have types, expanded values, which Fig. 6. Element Bidder display for excaple “Close Auction”. can more accurately convey the specifics of the business model being developed. In order to reduce the empiricity of the development of a business model, a basic algorithm has been developed that shows how the sequence can be represented by the activity 117 model element in the BPMN notation. A detailed selection of [9] Veitaite, I., Lopata, A. (2014) Enterprise Model, MOF and ISO Standards possible variations of one element "Activities" has also been de- Based Information System‘s Development Process. International Conference on Business Information Systems, p. 73-79. ISBN 978-3- veloped. "Activity" type selection is made from all variants of 319-11459-0. the BPMN notation. 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