Business process modeling tools provide business users with the ability to model their business processes, implement and execute those models, and refine the models based on as-executed data. As a result, business process modeling tools can provide transparency into business processes, as well as the centralization of corporate business process models and execution metrics.
Modeling and simulation
Modeling and simulation functionality allows for pre-execution “what-if” modeling and simulation. Post-execution optimization is available based on the analysis of actual as-performed metrics.
Business process modeling diagrams are:
- Use case diagrams created by Ivar Jacobson, 1992. Currently integrated in UML
- Activity diagrams, also currently adopted by UML
Some business process modeling techniques are:
- Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN)
- Cognition enhanced Natural language Information Analysis Method (CogNIAM)
- Extended Business Modeling Language (xBML)
- Event-driven process chain (EPC)
- ICAM DEFinition (IDEF0)
- Unified Modeling Language (UML), extensions for business process such as Eriksson-Penker's
Programming languages tools for BPM
BPM suite software provides programming interfaces (web services, application program interfaces (APIs)) which allow enterprise applications to be built to leverage the BPM engine.
Programming languages that are being introduced for BPM include:
- Architecture of Integrated Information Systems (ARIS) supports EPC,
- Business Process Execution Language (BPEL),
- Web Services Choreography Description Language (WS-CDL).
- XML Process Definition Language (XPDL),
- Java Process Definition Language (JBPM),
Other technologies related to business process modeling include model-driven architecture and service-oriented architecture.