Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) is a standardized graphical representation for specifying business processes within a business process model. It was originally developed by the Business Process Management Initiative (BPMI) and has been maintained by the Object Management Group (OMG) since their merger in 2005. The latest version, BPMN 2.0.2, was published in January 2014.

Overview of BPMN

BPMN provides a notation that is intuitive to business users while being capable of representing complex process semantics. The primary goal of BPMN is to support business process management by providing a common language that can be understood by all stakeholders involved, including business analysts, technical developers, and business managers. This helps to bridge the communication gap between business process design and implementation.

Key Features

• Graphical Representation: BPMN uses a flowchart-like notation that is easy to understand and allows for clear visualization of business processes.
• Standardized Symbols: It encompasses over 100 standardized symbols that represent various workflows and tasks, ensuring unambiguous communication of process flows.
• Flexibility: BPMN supports various modeling environments and can be adapted for different organizational needs.
• Execution Semantics: The notation allows for mapping to execution languages like Business Process Execution Language (BPEL), facilitating automated process execution.

Core Elements of BPMN

1. Flow Objects:
   • Events: Represent occurrences that affect the flow (Start, Intermediate, End).
   • Activities: Tasks performed within the process.
   • Gateways: Control the flow based on conditions.
2. Connecting Objects:
   • Sequence Flows: Show the order of activities.
   • Message Flows: Indicate communication between participants.
   • Associations: Link artifacts to flow objects.
3. Swimlanes:
   • Organize activities by roles or departments, clarifying responsibilities within the process.
4. Artifacts:
   • Provide additional context, such as Data Objects and Annotations.

Importance of BPMN

BPMN is recognized as a crucial tool in business process management because it helps organizations visualize their processes, streamline workflows, and improve efficiency. By adopting BPMN, companies can facilitate better communication among stakeholders and ensure that everyone has a clear understanding of the processes involved.

BPMN Example

This BPMN (Business Process Model and Notation) diagram illustrates the process of handling an order, from receipt to final settlement, including steps for procurement and customer communication. Here’s a detailed explanation and interpretation of the diagram, along with key concepts:

Key Concepts

1. Order Handling: The process begins with the receipt of an order and involves checking availability, shipping the article (if available), or proceeding with procurement (if not available).
2. Decision Points: The process includes decision points (gateways) that determine the flow based on the availability of the article and the outcome of the procurement process.
3. Customer Communication: The process ensures that the customer is informed at critical points, such as when the article is undeliverable or removed from the catalog.
4. Financial Settlement: The process concludes with financial settlement upon successful delivery of the article.

Detailed Breakdown

1. Order Received (Start Event)
   • Description: The process begins when an order is received.
   • Symbol: Green Circle (Start Event)
2. Check Availability (Task)
   • Description: The system checks the availability of the ordered article.
   • Symbol: Rounded Rectangle (Task)
   • Next Step: The process moves to a decision gateway to determine if the article is available.
3. Article Available? (Exclusive Gateway)
   • Description: A decision point to check if the article is available.
   • Symbol: Diamond (Exclusive Gateway)
   • Outcomes:
     • Yes: If the article is available, the process moves to “Ship Article.”
     • No: If the article is not available, the process moves to “Procurement.”
4. Ship Article (Task)
   • Description: The available article is shipped to the customer.
   • Symbol: Rounded Rectangle (Task)
   • Next Step: The process moves to “Financial Settlement.”
5. Financial Settlement (Task)
   • Description: Financial settlement is completed for the shipped article.
   • Symbol: Rounded Rectangle (Task)
   • Next Step: The process ends with “Payment Received.”
6. Payment Received (End Event)
   • Description: The process ends with the receipt of payment.
   • Symbol: Red Circle (End Event)
7. Procurement (Sub-Process)
   • Description: The procurement process is initiated to obtain the unavailable article. This sub-process includes its own tasks and decision points.
   • Symbol: Rounded Rectangle with a “+” sign (Sub-Process)
   • Next Step: The process moves to decision points based on the outcome of the procurement.
8. Undeliverable (Intermediate Event)
   • Description: An intermediate event that occurs if the article is undeliverable.
   • Symbol: Double Circle (Intermediate Event)
   • Next Step: The process moves to “Inform Customer.”
9. Late Delivery (Intermediate Event)
   • Description: An intermediate event that occurs if the article is delivered late.
   • Symbol: Double Circle (Intermediate Event)
   • Next Step: The process moves to “Inform Customer.”
10. Inform Customer (Task)
    • Description: The customer is informed about the status of the order, such as undeliverable or late delivery.
    • Symbol: Rounded Rectangle (Task)
    • Next Step: The process ends with “Customer Informed.”
11. Customer Informed (End Event)
    • Description: The process ends with the customer being informed.
    • Symbol: Red Circle (End Event)
12. Remove Article from Catalogue (Task)
    • Description: The article is removed from the catalog if it is undeliverable.
    • Symbol: Rounded Rectangle (Task)
    • Next Step: The process ends with “Article Removed.”
13. Article Removed (End Event)
    • Description: The process ends with the article being removed from the catalog.
    • Symbol: Red Circle (End Event)

Interpretation

• Decision Gateways: The use of exclusive gateways (diamonds) allows the process to branch based on specific conditions, such as the availability of the article and the outcome of the procurement process. This ensures that the correct actions are taken at each step.
• Sub-Process: The procurement sub-process is used to handle the complexity of obtaining an unavailable article, including intermediate events for undeliverable and late delivery scenarios.
• Customer Communication: The process ensures that the customer is informed at critical points, such as when the article is undeliverable or removed from the catalog, enhancing transparency and customer satisfaction.
• End Events: The process concludes with clear end events, such as payment received, customer informed, and article removed, ensuring that each path has a defined outcome.

Summary

This BPMN diagram provides a comprehensive approach to handling orders, from receipt to final settlement. It ensures that articles are checked for availability, shipped if available, or procured if not. The process includes decision points, sub-processes, and customer communication to handle various scenarios effectively. The use of BPMN elements, such as tasks, gateways, and events, allows for a clear and structured representation of the order handling process, ensuring efficiency and customer satisfaction.

References

1. Business Process Model and Notation – Wikipedia
2. Top Business Process Modeling Techniques with Examples – TechTarget
3. What is Business Process Modeling and Notation (BPMN)? – IBM
4. Business Process Model & Notation™ (BPMN™) – OMG
5. Understanding BPMN: A Comprehensive Overview – Visual Paradigm
6. Streamlining Business Processes with Visual Paradigm’s BPMN – Archimetric
7. Business Process Design with Powerful BPMN Software – Visual Paradigm
8. Camunda vs Visual Paradigm Comparison – PeerSpot
9. Review: First Impressions of Visual Paradigm Professional – Visual Paradigm Forums
10. Online BPMN Diagram Tool – Visual Paradigm Online
11. Business Process Modeling Tool – Visual Paradigm – Visual Paradigm

This overview provides a comprehensive understanding of BPMN, its features, importance, and core elements while also offering references for further exploration of the topic.