The document provides an overview of Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN) fundamentals. It discusses the history and development of BPMN, including its creation in 2001 and release of version 1.0 in 2004. It then defines BPMN as a standard for defining and communicating business processes. The document also notes that while BPMN 1.0 allowed modeling of business processes, it did not formally define the semantics of the diagrams. Later work by the Object Management Group aimed to address this by developing a Business Process Definition Metamodel to serve as the metamodel for BPMN.

1. ‫أكاديمية الحكومة اإللكترونية الفلسطينية‬
The Palestinian eGovernment Academy
www.egovacademy.ps
Tutorial 1: Data and Business Process Modeling
Session 11-12
Business Process Modeling Notation Fundamentals
By: Stephen A. White, IBM
(With Modification and extensions)
Dr. Mahmoud H. M. Saheb
Palestinian Polytechnic University
Reviewed by
PalGov © 2011
Prof. Marco Ronchetti, Trento University, Italy 1

2. About
This tutorial is part of the PalGov project, funded by the TEMPUS IV program of the
Commission of the European Communities, grant agreement 511159-TEMPUS-1-
2010-1-PS-TEMPUS-JPHES. The project website: www.egovacademy.ps
Project Consortium:
Birzeit University, Palestine
University of Trento, Italy
(Coordinator )
Palestine Polytechnic University, Palestine Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium
Palestine Technical University, Palestine
Université de Savoie, France
Ministry of Telecom and IT, Palestine
University of Namur, Belgium
Ministry of Interior, Palestine
TrueTrust, UK
Ministry of Local Government, Palestine
Coordinator:
Dr. Mustafa Jarrar
Birzeit University, P.O.Box 14- Birzeit, Palestine
Telfax:+972 2 2982935 mjarrar@birzeit.eduPalGov © 2011
2

3. © Copyright Notes
Everyone is encouraged to use this material, or part of it, but should properly
cite the project (logo and website), and the author of that part.
No part of this tutorial may be reproduced or modified in any form or by any
means, without prior written permission from the project, who have the full
copyrights on the material.
Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike
CC-BY-NC-SA
This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon your work non-
commercially, as long as they credit you and license their new creations
under the identical terms.
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4. Tutorial Map
Intended Learning Objectives
Topic Time
Module 1 (Conceptual Date Modeling)
Module I: Conceptual Data Modeling
A: Knowledge and Understanding
11a1: Demonstrate knowledge of conceptual modeling notations and concepts Session 0: Outline and Introduction
11a2: Demonstrate knowledge of Object Role Modeling (ORM) methodology. Session 1.1: Information Modeling 1
11a3: Explain and demonstrate the concepts of data integrity & business rules Session 1.2: Conceptual Data Modeling using ORM 1
B: Intellectual Skills Session 1.3: Conceptual Analyses 1
11b1: Analyze application and domain requirements at the conceptual level, Session 2: Lab- Conceptual Analyses 3
and formalize it using ORM. Session 3.1: Uniqueness Rules 1.5
11b2: Analyze entity identity at the application and domain levels. Session 3.2: Mandatory Rules 1.5
11b4: Optimize, transform, and (re)engineer conceptual models. Session 4: Lab- Uniqueness & Mandatory Rules 3
11b5: Detect &resolve contradictions & implications at the conceptual level. Session 5: Subtypes and Other Rules 3
C: Professional and Practical Skills Session 6: Lab- Subtypes and Other Rules 3
11c1: Using ORM modeling tools (Conceptual Modeling Tools). Session 7.1: Schema Equivalence &Optimization 1.5
Module 2 (Business Process Modeling) Session 7.2: Rules Check &Schema Engineering 1.5
A: Knowledge and Understanding Session 8: Lab- National Student Registry 3
12a1: Demonstrate knowledge of business process modeling notations and concepts.
Module II: Business Process Modeling
12a2: Demonstrate knowledge of business process modeling and mapping.
12a3: Demonstrate understand of business process optimization and re-engineering. Session 9: BP Management and BPMN: An Overview 3
B: Intellectual Skills Session 10: Lab - BP Management 3
12b1: Identify business processes. Session 11: BPMN Fundamentals 3
12b2: Model and map business processes. Session 12: Lab - BPMN Fundamentals 3
12b3: Optimize and re-engineer business processes. Session 13: Modeling with BPMN 3
C: Professional and Practical Skills Session 14: Lab- Modeling with BPMN 3
12c1: Using business process modeling tools, such as MS Visio. Session 15: BP Management & Reengineering 3
Session 16: Lab- BP Management & Reengineering 3
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5. Session 11: BPMN Fundamentals
Session ILOs
After completing this session students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate knowledge of business process
modeling and mapping.
2. Business Process Modeling for Normal Flow, B2B
Modeling, Exception Handling, Compensation
Handling, Complex Process.
3. Modeling orchestration and choreography
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6. Session Outline
• BPMN Status
• BPMN Notation
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7. Background
History
Definition of BPMN
Initial Charter
Within the OMG
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8. History
Formation of Notation Working Group
August, 2001, the Notation Working Group is formed. Currently, the Notation Working
Group is composed of 58 members representing 35 companies, organizations, or
individuals.
BPMN 0.9 Draft
November, 2002, the BPMN 0.9 draft specification was released to the public
BPMN 1.0 Draft
August, 2003, the BPMN 1.0 draft specification was released to the public
BPMN 1.0
May, 2004, the BPMN 1.0 specification was released to the public.
Currently, there are 28 companies that have implementations of BPMN and there are
5 companies developing implementations.
Merger with OMG
June, 2005, BPMN 1.x was in development. BPMN 1.0 is OMG IP, but an RFC/FTF
process is underway to establish as an OMG specification and to allow
continuation of work.
BPMN 2.0
The final version of the specification was released in January, 2011
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9. Definition of BPMN
Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN)
BPMN provides businesses with the capability of
defining and understanding their internal and external
business procedures through a Business Process
Diagram, which will give organizations the ability to
communicate these procedures in a standard manner.
BPMN also is supported with an internal model that
enables the generation of executable BPEL4WS.
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10. BPMI.org Hourglass
Audiences: Business Environment Purposes:
Strategy Consultants
Business Analysts BPMN Modeling
Process Designers Focus  BP Scope 
BPEL
System Architects
Execution
Software Engineers
Technology Implementation
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11. BPMN Semantics
The BPMN 1.0 Specification did not
formally define the semantics of the
Business Process Diagram (i.e., a
metamodel)
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12. Within the OMG
•Business Modeling Integration (BMI) Domain Task Force (DTF)
– BMI is developing a Business Process Definition Metamodel (BDPM)
– BPDM could possibly serve as the Metamodel for BPMN
• The Metamodel would be used to generate a BPMN schema for exchange of
BPMN Diagram Semantic information
– BPMN RFC approved, an FTF to be established this meeting
• This will allow the continuation of BPMN development–a future RFP or
consolidate with BPDM?
•Other OMG Work
– Has developed UML2, which includes an Activity Diagram
• The Activity Diagram is often used by IT specialists for process modeling, but
not many business analysts (which use BPMN)
• The merging of BPMN and UML Activity Diagrams would bring together the two
modeling audiences
– Other Process-related work:
– UML Profile for DODAF/MODAF; SPEM; SysML; PSL
– Has developed an XML Interchange Format (XMI) for the exchange of
diagrams
• XMI could be used for the exchange of BPMN Diagram Layout information
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13. Major changes in BPMN2
• Choreographies
– Choreographies-model
– Conversation-model
• Complete Metamodel
• BPMN Core
• BPMN Execution Semantics
• BPMN - BPEL Mapping
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14. Topics
BPMN Status
Notation
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15. Notation
• Business Process Diagram Elements
– Core Set of Diagram Elements
– Complete Set of Diagram Elements
• Business Process Diagram Samples
– Normal Flow
– B2B Modeling
– Exception Handling
– Compensation Handling
– A Complex Process
• Mapping to BPEL4WS Sample
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16. basic categories of elements
• Flow Objects
• Connecting Objects
• Swimlanes
• Artifacts
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17. Core Set of Diagram Elements
Flow Connection
The core set of modeling elements
enable the easy development of
simple Business Process Diagrams
that will look familiar to most
Business Analysts (a flowchart
diagram)
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18. Events
An Event is something that happens during the course of a business
process and affects its execution flow.
An Event has a cause and an impact
BPMN defines three kinds of events:
•Start Events: indicates where a particular process will start.
•Intermediate Events: occur between a Start Event and an End Event. It
will affect the flow of the process, but will not start or (directly) terminate
the process.
•End Events: indicates where a process will end.
For more details usage and rules see the BPMN specifications from OMG
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19. Events triggers
An Event is something that “happens”
during the course of a business
process. These Events affect the flow
of the Process and usually have a
trigger or a result. They can start,
interrupt, or end the flow.
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23. Complete Set of Diagram Elements, Activities
An activity is work that is
performed within a business
process. An activity can be
atomic or non-atomic
(compound). The types of
activities that are a part of a
Process Model are:
Process, Sub-Process, and
Task.
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26. Complete Set of Diagram Elements, Activities,
Cont.
A Sub-Process can be in an
expanded form that shows
the process details of the a
lower-level set of activities.
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27. Connections
A Sequence Flow is used to
show the order that
activities will be performed
in a Process.
A Message Flow is used to
show the flow of messages
between two entities that
are prepared to send and
receive them.
An Association is used to
associate information and
artifacts with flow objects.
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28. Sequence flow rules
www.omg.org/spec/BPMN2.0
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29. Message flow rules
www.omg.org/spec/BPMN2.0
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30. Gateways
Gateways are modeling
elements that are used to
control how Sequence
Flows interact as they
converge and diverge within
a Process. If the flow does
not need to be controlled,
then a Gateway is not
needed.
For details and animation see next session and the following link:
http://knowhow.visual-paradigm.com/business-process-modeling/bpmn-gateways/
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32. Complete Set of Diagram Elements, Swimlanes
A Pool is a “swimlane” and
a graphical container for
partitioning a set of
activities from other Pools,
usually in the context of
B2B situations.
A Lane is a sub-partition
within a Pool and will
extend the entire length of
the Pool, either vertically or
horizontally.
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33. Complete Set of Diagram Elements, Artifacts
Data Objects are not flow
objects (i.e., connected
through Sequence Flow), but
they do provide information
about how documents, data,
and other objects are used and
updated within a Process.
Text Annotations are a
mechanism for a modeler to
provide additional information
for the reader of a BPMN
diagram.
Groups provide a mechanism
to visually organize activities
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34. Normal Flow
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35. B2B Modeling
Enhancements are being considered for BPMN 1.x
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36. Exception Handling
Intermediate Events
attached to the boundary of
an activity represent
triggers that can interrupt
the activity. All work within
the activity will be stopped
and flow will proceed from
the Event. Timer,
Exceptions, Messages, etc.
can be Triggers.
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37. Compensation Handling and Transactions
A Transaction is an activity that has a
double border. Transactions are
supported by a transaction protocol
(e.g., WS-Transaction).
Normal Outgoing Sequence Flow
represents the path to follow a
successful completion.
A Cancel Intermediate Event represents
the path to follow a cancelled
completion.
An Exception Intermediate Event
represents the path to follow a
transaction hazard.
Activities used for compensate (with
marker) are outside normal flow and are
Associated normal activities.
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38. A Complex Process
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39. Mapping to BPEL4WS Sample
Example: just to show that BPMN is a graphical language, and
it can be mapped to executable language.
<process name="EMailVotingProcess">
<!-- The Process data is defined first-->
<sequence>
<receive partnerLink="Internal" portType="tns:processPort"
operation="receiveIssueList“ variable="processData"
createInstance="Yes"/>
<invoke name="ReviewIssueList" partnerLink="Internal"
portType="tns:internalPort" operation="sendIssueList"
inputVariable="processData“ outputVariable="processData"/>
<switch name="Anyissuesready">
<!-- name="Yes" -->
<case condition="bpws:getVariableProperty(ProcessData,NumIssues)>0">
<invoke name=“DiscussionCycle“ partnerLink="Internal"
portType="tns:processPort" operation=“callDiscussionCycle"
inputVariable="processData"/>
<!– Other Activities not shown -->
<!--name="No" -->
</case>
<otherwise>
<empty/>
</otherwise>
</switch>
</sequence>
</process>
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40. Choreography vs Orchestration
The difference between orchestration and choreography like this:
• Orchestration == Executable Process
Web Service Orchestration relates to the execution of specific
business processes. WS-BPEL is a language for defining
processes that can be executed on an orchestration engine.
• Choreography == Multi-party Collaboration
Web Service Choreography relates to describing externally
observable interactions between web services. WS-CDL is a
language for describing multi-party contracts and is somewhat
like an extension of WSDL: WSDL describes web services
interfaces, WS-CDL describes collaborations between web
services.
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41. Orchestration: Workflow, internal processes,
private processes.
Choreography: Contained within one Pool
processes Collaboration, global processes, B2B
Defined by the interaction between Pools
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42. Session 12: lab Activities and Assignment
• Video
• BPD Basic elements 15:00
• BPMN complete set 22:00 (next Session)
• Gate Ways 16:00 (next Session)
Discussion
• Examples of BPMN diagrams
– Travel Request Expenses report (Bizagi)
– Purchase Request (Bizagi)
Discussion
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43. Most Common BP Mistakes in BPMN
Process Modeling
With Demo and Slides
• Pattern 1. Activities in one pool are not connected
• Pattern 2. Process does not contain a start event
• Pattern 3. Process does not contain an end event
• Pattern 4. Sequence flow crosses process boundary
• Pattern 5. Sequence flow crosses pool boundary
• Pattern 6. Gateway receives, evaluates or sends a message
• Pattern 7. Intermediate events are placed on the edge of the pool
• Pattern 8. Hanging intermediate events or activities
• Pattern 9. Each lane in the pool contains start event
• Pattern 10. Incorrect use of time events Solution: the meaning!
• Pattern 11. Sequence and message event represent data flow
• Pattern 12. Event is used as a message flow source
• Pattern 13. Improper use of flow elements
• Pattern 14. Starting timer placed instead of intermediate timer
• Pattern 15. Exception flow is not connected to the exception
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44. Readings Course Activity
• Business Process Model and notation (BPMN) V2.0
Course Activity
www.omg.org/spec/BPMN2.0
(chapter 7)
• BPMN Quick Reference Guide (From bizagi)
http://www.bizagi.com/docs/BPMN_Quick_Reference_Guide_ENG.pdf
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45. Summary
• In this session we have discussed the
status, the notation of BPMN and the
most common mistakes.
• Next session will discuss:
• BPMN complete set
• Gate Ways
• Most Common BP Mistakes in BPMN process
Modeling
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46. References
1. BPMN Fundamentals, Stephen A. White, IBM,
http://www.zurich.ibm.com/~olz/teaching/ETH2011/White-BPMN-
Intro.pdf
2. Business Process Model and notation (BPMN) V2.0,
www.omg.org/spec/BPMN2.0
3. BizAgi, www.bizagi.com
4. DiveIntoPBM http://www.diveintobpm.org/index.jsp
5. Process Modeler for visio http://help.itp-commerce.com
poster
6. ttp://bpmessentials.com/uploads/media/BPMN_2.0-Poster.pdf
7. http://www.adonis-community.com/fileadmin/media/BPMN/BPMN-2.0-
poster.pdf
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47. Thanks…
Dr. Mahmoud H. Saheb
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