This document proposes a multi-dimensional compositional approach for modeling business processes. It discusses several key dimensions for business process modeling including control flow, data model, and transactions. It introduces ID-nets as a formal notation for separating control flow and data dimensions. ID-nets allow dynamic synchronization between control flow and data. The document argues its approach provides contributions such as a synchronization mechanism for composing different dimensions and a formal notation (ID-nets) that separates control flow from data model while allowing their dynamic synchronization. It provides examples of how ID-nets can be used to model control flow, data, and transactions in business processes.

1. A Multi-Dimensional
Compositional Approach for
Business Process
Ang Chen
1

2. Business Process Transaction &
Preliminary
Engineering ID-net
Questions Conclusion Applications
2

3. Business Process Transaction &
Preliminary Engineering ID-net
Questions Conclusion Applications
2

5. 4

6. 4

7. 4

8. 4

9. 4

10. 4

11. Separation of Dimensions
Multi-Dimensional analysis is
natural in science e.g.
mathematics, physics, and
engineering
5

12. Separation of Dimensions
Multi-Dimensional analysis is
natural in science e.g.
mathematics, physics, and
engineering
In software development, it is about the
Separation of Concerns and Reusability, but
their applications are more abstract and
conceptual
5

13. 6

14. 6

15. 7

16. Business Process Transaction &
Preliminary
Engineering ID-net
Questions Conclusion Applications
8

17. Business Process
Preliminary Transaction &
Engineering ID-net
Questions Conclusion Applications
8

18. Business Process
(Workflow)
9

19. Business Process
10

20. Business Process: E-
Commerce
Process production
schedule
receive collect send
order payment invoice
shipping
schedule
Each color represents an organization
Activity
Flow
Participant
11

21. Process: Pass the Thesis
Exam
12

22. Process: Pass the Thesis
Exam
Inscription of
exam (faculty)
Send thesis to Approvals of Authorization
AND AND
the juries juries of faculty
30+ days before Hard copy for
department
20 days before Thesis
Defence
12

23. Traceability
For an objective
13

24. Traceability
For an objective
When Who
What How
13

25. Process Oriented
Systems
• Healthcare systems
• Scientific workflows: following experiments
• E-Government: administration procedures
• E-Commerce, trading platforms
• Any Case Handling Systems: Logistics,
Insurance

26. Software Development
Cycle
15

27. Software Development
Cycle
15

28. Software Development
Cycle
15

29. Software Development
Cycle
Requireme
15

30. Software Development
Cycle
Analysis
& Design
Requireme
15

31. Software Development
Cycle
Analysis
& Design
Requireme
Implement
15

32. Software Development
Cycle
Analysis
& Design
Requireme
Implement
Test &
15

33. Software Development
Cycle
Analysis
& Design
Requireme
Implement
Execution
Test &
15

34. Challenges in Software
Development
16

35. Challenges in Software
Development
Execution
Test &
Implement
Analysis
& Design
Requireme
16

36. Challenges in Software
Development
Execution
Test &
Implement
Analysis
& Design
Requireme
16

37. Challenges in Software
Development
Execution
Test &
dependency
Implement
Analysis
& Design
Requireme
16

38. Challenges in Software
Development
Execution
Complexity of
Test & models
dependency
Implement
Analysis
& Design
Requireme
16

39. Challenges in Software
Development
Execution
Complexity of
Test & models
dependency
Implement
Analysis Frequent changes
& Design
of requirements
Requireme
16

40. Challenges in Software
Development
Exe
cut
ion
Complexity of
Tes
t& models
dependency
Imp
lem
ent
Ana
& D lysis
esi
Frequent changes
gn
Req
of requirements
uire
me
16

41. Challenges
17

42. Challenges
Business processes are complex entities which
need to change frequently to adopt
requirements from business domains
17

43. Challenges
Business processes are complex entities which
need to change frequently to adopt
requirements from business domains
The development of business processes is
about developing concurrent and distributed
programs across different platforms
17

44. Requirements of BP
Modeling: Workflow Patterns
Inscription of
exam (faculty)
Approvals of Authorization
AND AND
juries of faculty
AND-SPLIT Hard copy for
department
AND-JOIN
18

45. Requirements of BP
Modeling: Workflow Patterns
Inscription of
exam (faculty)
Approvals of Authorization
AND AND
juries of faculty
AND-SPLIT Hard copy for
department
AND-JOIN
18

46. Requirements of BP
Modeling: Workflow Patterns
Inscription of
exam (faculty)
Approvals of Authorization
AND AND
juries of faculty
AND-SPLIT Hard copy for
department
AND-JOIN
18

47. Requirements of BP
Modeling: Workflow Patterns
Inscription of
exam (faculty)
Approvals of Authorization
AND AND
juries of faculty
AND-SPLIT Hard copy for
department
AND-JOIN
18

48. Requirements of BP
Modeling: Workflow Patterns
Inscription of
exam (faculty)
Approvals of Authorization
AND AND
juries of faculty
AND-SPLIT Hard copy for
department
AND-JOIN
18

49. Requirements of BP
Modeling: Workflow Patterns
B B
A B A AND A XOR
sequence C C
AND split XOR Split
A A B
AND C A MUL
XOR C
B C
B
AND join XOR join Multi-Choice
B
B
A start C A XOR AND D
end E
C
D XOR Split AND join
Interleaved parallel routing a not well-formed process
19

50. Requirements of BP
Modeling
20

51. Requirements of BP
Modeling
• Workflow patterns: increasing references for
the requirements of expressiveness in BP
modeling
20

52. Requirements of BP
Modeling
• Workflow patterns: increasing references for
the requirements of expressiveness in BP
modeling
• Informal description
20

53. Requirements of BP
Modeling
• Workflow patterns: increasing references for
the requirements of expressiveness in BP
modeling
• Informal description
• No single language can satisfy all the
requirements
20

54. What are the primitives for BP modeling?
21

55. Proposition: Dimensions
of Business Process
22

56. Proposition: Dimensions
of Business Process
• Control flow: for the execution (scheduling) of
processes (parallel)
22

57. Proposition: Dimensions
of Business Process
• Control flow: for the execution (scheduling) of
processes (parallel)
• Data model: information which are not part of the
control flow
22

58. Proposition: Dimensions
of Business Process
• Control flow: for the execution (scheduling) of
processes (parallel)
• Data model: information which are not part of the
control flow
• Transaction (synchronization): short-running (ACID),
long-running (relaxed ACID)
22

59. Proposition: Dimensions
of Business Process
• Control flow: for the execution (scheduling) of
processes (parallel)
• Data model: information which are not part of the
control flow
• Transaction (synchronization): short-running (ACID),
long-running (relaxed ACID)
By combining the dimensions we obtain new
aspects, e.g. :
control + data model => data flow, concurrency
22

60. Dimensions of Business
Process
23

61. Dimensions of Business
Process
Control
23

62. Dimensions of Business
Process
0..* 1 1 0..1
Item Order Shipping
1 1
0..1
0..* Production
Control Data
Payment
23

63. Dimensions of Business
Process
Transaction
//, +, ..
0..* 1 1 0..1
Item Order Shipping
1 1
0..1
0..* Production
Control Data
Payment
23

64. Dimensions of Business
Process
Transaction
//, +, ..
0..* 1 1 0..1
Item Order Shipping
1 1
0..1
0..* Production
Control Data
Payment
23

65. Business Process Transaction &
Preliminary
Engineering ID-net
Questions Conclusion Applications
24

66. Preliminary Transaction
Business Process
Engineering
ID-net
Questions Conclusion Applications
24

67. Main Contributions

68. Main Contributions
• Synchronization mechanism (Transaction) for the
composition of dimensions.

69. Main Contributions
• Synchronization mechanism (Transaction) for the
composition of dimensions.
• Formal notation: ID-net
• Semantics of the control dimension, true concurrency
• Tokens are identifications of resources, monitor the
resources invovled in business proceses

70. Main Contributions
• Synchronization mechanism (Transaction) for the
composition of dimensions.
• Formal notation: ID-net
• Semantics of the control dimension, true concurrency
• Tokens are identifications of resources, monitor the
resources invovled in business proceses
• Model process oriented system as ID-net Controlled
System (IDCS): multi-dimensional model

71. Transaction
(Simultaneous)
26

72. Transaction
(Simultaneous)
Reserve a
flight ticket
26

73. Transaction
(Simultaneous)
Reserve a
flight ticket
//
validate client’s payment reserve a place
Bank service Airline ticket service
26

74. Transaction
(Exclusive Choice)
Payment
+
By Paypal By Credit Card
27

75. ID-net: Separation of Control
Flow and Data Model
28

76. ID-net: Separation of Control
Flow and Data Model
Typed places
Arc inscriptions
x y
P1 P2
28

77. ID-net: Separation of Control
Flow and Data Model
Data model (e.g. global variables)
a 3
b 4
c 0
Typed places
Arc inscriptions
x y
P1 P2
28

78. ID-net: Separation of Control
Flow and Data Model
Data model (e.g. global variables)
a 3
b 4
c 0
y:=[x]+2 Typed places
Arc inscriptions
x y
P1 P2
28

79. ID-net: Separation of Control
Flow and Data Model
Data model (e.g. global variables)
a 3
b 4
c 0
y:=[x]+2 Typed places
Arc inscriptions
x y
P1 a,b,c P2
28

80. ID-net: Separation of Control
Flow and Data Model
Data model (e.g. global variables)
a 3
b 4
c 0
y:=[x]+2 Typed places
Arc inscriptions
x y
P1 a,b, c P2
28

81. ID-net: Separation of Control
Flow and Data Model
Data model (e.g. global variables)
a 3
b 4
c 0
Typed places
Arc inscriptions
x y
P1 a,b, c P2
y:=[c]+2=2
28

82. ID-net: Separation of Control
Flow and Data Model
Data model (e.g. global variables)
a 3
b 4
c 0
Typed places
Arc inscriptions
x y
P1 a,b, 2 P2
y:=[c]+2=2
28

83. ID-net: Separation of Control
Flow and Data Model
Data model (e.g. global variables)
a 3
b 4
c 0
Typed places
Arc inscriptions
x y
P1 a,b, 2 P2
y:=[c]+2=2
28

84. ID-net: Separation of Control
Flow and Data Model
Data model (e.g. global variables)
a 3
b 4
c 0
Typed places
Arc inscriptions
x y
P1 a,b, 2 P2
y:=[c]+2=2
Dynamic synchronization between
control flow and data model
28

85. ID-net Transitions: Pipes
v1
v1 v1 v1
v1
v1 v2 v1
v1
v2 v1 v1
Pipe transitions must preserve all input tokens for output

86. ID-net Transitions:
Generators
v1 v2
v1 v1
v2 v3
v1
v1 v2
v2
Generator transitions may generate new (fresh) tokens,
e.g. dynamic allocation of resources

87. Token Flow in ID-net
p3
p1 t1 t2
v1 v1 v1
v1
v2
p2 v2 v2 p6
p4 v3
v3
p5

88. ID-net: Principles
32

89. ID-net: Principles
Transaction
Separation of
Control and Data
dimension
Control Data
32

90. ID-net: Principles
Transaction
Separation of
Control and Data
dimension
Control Data
Synchronization
of dimensions
32

91. Business Process Transaction &
Preliminary
Engineering ID-net
Questions Conclusion Applications
33

92. Business Process Transaction &
Preliminary
Engineering ID-net
Questions Conclusion Applications
33

93. BP Modeling: Example
34

94. BP Modeling: Example
shipping
schedule
Informal receive collect send
description oder payment invoice
production
schedule
34

95. BP Modeling: Example
shipping
schedule
Informal receive collect send
description oder payment invoice
production
schedule
shipping
order schedule
create
Formalized receive o schedule invoice invoice
Control-Flow order o ps ss i i send
invoice
collect p
payment p ss ps
payment production
schedule
Receive order and collect payment can be parallel or
sequential, depending on the interpretation of the informal
model. parallel might be more flexible in this case
34

96. BP Modeling: Data
Model
shipping
order schedule
create
receive o schedule invoice invoice
order o ss ss i i send
invoice
collect p
payment p ps ps
payment production
schedule
1..* 1 1 0..1
Item Order Shipping
1 1
0..1
0..* Production
Payment
35

97. BP Modeling:
Synchronization of ID-net and Data
Models
36

98. BP Modeling:
Synchronization of ID-net and Data
Models
schedule shipping
order a,b o ss schedule
p production
payment c ps schedule
36

99. BP Modeling:
Synchronization of ID-net and Data
Models
schedule shipping
order a,b o ss schedule
p production
payment c ps schedule
inscription based on the data model
1 1 0..1 // evaluate and use input variables
Order Shipping
if ([o].clientID != [p].clientID) notFirable;
1
1
0..1
0..* Production
// fill output variables, create shipping and production from order
Payment ss := Shipping.Create([o], ... );
ps := Production.Create([o], ...);
36

100. Business Process
Modeling Framework
37

101. Business Process
Modeling Framework
Control-Flow Model
shipping
schedule
order
create
receive schedule invoice invoice
order send
invoice
collect
payment
payment production
schedule
Data Model
1..* 1 1 0..1
Item Order Shipping
1 1
0..1
0..*
Production
Payment
37

102. Business Process
Modeling Framework
Control-Flow Model
shipping
schedule
order
create
receive schedule invoice invoice
order send
invoice
collect
payment
payment production
schedule
synchronizations
Data Model
1..* 1 1 0..1
Item Order Shipping
1 1
0..1
0..*
Production
Payment
37

103. Business Process
Modeling Framework
Control-Flow Model
shipping
schedule
order
create
receive schedule invoice invoice
order send
invoice
collect
payment
payment production
schedule
Model
synchronizations Composition
Data Model
1..* 1 1 0..1
Item Order Shipping
1 1
0..1
0..*
Production
Payment
37

104. Business Process
Modeling Framework
Control-Flow Model
shipping
schedule
order
create
receive schedule invoice invoice
order send
invoice
collect
payment
payment production
schedule
Model Executable
synchronizations Composition BP
Data Model
1..* 1 1 0..1
Item Order Shipping
1 1
0..1
0..*
Production
Payment
37

105. Concurrent Program: Peterson’s
Algorithms for Mutual Exclusion
38

106. Concurrent Program: Peterson’s
Algorithms for Mutual Exclusion
Global variables a = false;
b = false;
victim = a;
Process a: Process b:
a = true; b = true;
victim = b; victim = a;
while( b && victim == b ); while( a && victim == a );
// blocked, do nothing // blocked, do nothing
// critical section // critical section
... ...
// end of critical section // end of critical section
a = false; b = false;
38

107. Concurrent Program: Peterson’s
Algorithms for Mutual Exclusion
Global variables Relation between the variables
a = false; N(a)=b;
b = false; N(b)=a;
victim = a;
x:=false
x x
ab x x x x x x
victim!=[x] || Critical
x:=true victim:=N([x]) Section
N(x)!=true
39

108. Concurrent Program: Peterson’s
Algorithms for Mutual Exclusion
Global variables Relation between the variables
a = false; N(a)=b;
b = false; N(b)=a;
victim = a;
x:=false
x x
ab x x x x x x
victim!=[x] || Critical
x:=true victim:=N([x]) Section
N(x)!=true
Property: maximum one token in the critical section
39

109. Concurrent Program: Peterson’s
Algorithms for Mutual Exclusion
Global variables Relation between the variables
a = false; N(a)=b; With 2 processes, this system
b = false; N(b)=a; is deadlock-free and
victim = a; starvation-free
x:=false
x x
ab x x x x x x
victim!=[x] || Critical
x:=true victim:=N([x]) Section
N(x)!=true
Property: maximum one token in the critical section
39

110. Model Verification
Properties of control Properties of each
flow model data model
Reasoning the
properties of the
synchronized system
40

111. Business Process Transaction &
Preliminary
Engineering ID-net
Questions Conclusion Applications
41

112. Business Process Transaction &
Preliminary
Engineering ID-net
Questions Conclusion Applications
41

113. Conclusion
• ID-net: Separation of Control and Data during the
modeling phase
• Transaction for the synchronization of dimensions
• Facilitate the verification and complexity management of
process-oriented models
• Model-Driven Development. Help to improve the cycle of
business process engineering, from modeling to execution
42

114. Future Perspectives
• Based on the dimensions, propose heuristics for
the model checking of complex systems
• A user-friendly language based on ID-net for the
syntax integration of DSLs (e.g. a concurrent
parallel programming language)
• Tools support, e.g. Push-Button compilation and
model verification, compilers tool-chains for high-
level languages
43

115. Business Process Transaction &
Preliminary
Engineering ID-net
Questions Conclusion Applications
44

116. Business Process Transaction &
Preliminary
Engineering ID-net
Questions Conclusion Applications
44