How can you use BPMN to document processes?

1 What is BPMN?

BPMN is a graphical notation that represents the flow of activities, events, decisions, and data in a business process. BPMN was developed by the Business Process Management Initiative (BPMI) and later adopted by the Object Management Group (OMG) as an international standard. BPMN aims to provide a common language for process design, execution, and management across different domains and tools.

2 Why use BPMN?

BPMN is an advantageous tool for process design and documentation, as it is easy to learn and use with its intuitive symbols and shapes. It is also flexible and expressive, able to capture various levels of detail and complexity, from high-level overviews to detailed workflows. Additionally, BPMN is interoperable and compatible, able to be exchanged and integrated with other systems and applications that support the BPMN format. Furthermore, it is widely accepted and recognized, supported by many process modeling tools and platforms, as well as endorsed by many industry associations and organizations.

3 How to use BPMN?

Using BPMN to document processes requires you to identify the scope and purpose of the process, as well as define the inputs, outputs, and stakeholders involved. You must also choose the appropriate level of abstraction and detail for your audience and goal. BPMN offers four levels of modeling: descriptive, analytical, executable, and dynamic. Selecting the relevant elements and symbols from the BPMN palette and arranging them in a logical order is essential. Labels, annotations, and attributes should be added to provide more information and clarity. BPMN allows you to use text, data, and expressions to describe the elements and their properties. Finally, verifying and validating the process diagram is essential to ensure it is complete, consistent, and correct. Various methods and tools can be used to check the syntax, semantics, and logic of the BPMN diagram.

4 What are some BPMN best practices?

In order to create effective and efficient BPMN diagrams, it is essential to adhere to some best practices. This includes using a consistent and meaningful naming convention for the elements, as well as avoiding acronyms, jargon, and abbreviations. The layout of the diagram should be clear and simple, with no crossing or overlapping lines, shapes, and labels. Additionally, it is beneficial to use a hierarchical and modular approach for the diagram to break down complex processes into sub-processes or sub-processes. Furthermore, a standard and uniform style should be used for the diagram that follows the guidelines and rules of the BPMN specification. Lastly, a collaborative and iterative process should be used for the diagram involving relevant stakeholders and experts in the creation, review, and improvement of the BPMN diagram.

5 What are some BPMN examples?

BPMN can be used to document processes, and here are some examples of BPMN diagrams for various scenarios. For instance, a simple order-to-cash process can show the flow of activities, events, and gateways between a customer, a sales department, and an accounting department. Additionally, a complex loan approval process can illustrate the flow of activities, events, and data between a borrower, a bank, and a credit agency with the use of swimlanes, sub-processes, and artifacts. Lastly, a dynamic travel booking process can demonstrate the flow of activities, events, and data between a traveler, a travel agency, and a hotel with expressions, conditions, and timers.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?