Question

Locate from an online search two different process modeling applications. Provide references. Describe similarities and differences between the two applications. Which do you prefer using for process modeling at your employer and why?

Answer 1

To run your business intangibly you need process models. These enable the easy data and information flow for smooth running of business. We have a diverse variety of those like BPMN, Flowcharts, UML diagrams, Gannt Charts and so on. Let's see two among them and compare them based on their similarities and differences.

1) Business Process Modelling Notation: In this model standardized or self defined series of objects or symbols can be used to represent tasks and workflows. Better to use standardized symbols and objects to work with the outside environment efficiently. BPMN has

a) Flow Objects: Activities represented by rectangular boxes with rounded corners, events by circles, gateways or control points with diamond shape

b) Connecting Objects : Solid lines show task transfers, dashed lines show messages. Actually we join tasks to indicate their sequence.

c) Swim lanes: If a process shares responsibility, these show how they are shared, distributed and how they work up with each other. Sub-process or task is pool and lanes show people or departments.

d) Artifacts: Used to add extra information that is not actually the message or sequence flow but may help to understand the process. We use dotted lines, squares outlined with dashes and dots and text annotations with square brackets.

2) UML (Unified Modeling Language) are not actually process modelling technique buy efficient provides an alternative to process modelling. It is usually used for development of software but can be easily extended to the business process modelling.

Similarities between BPMN and UML

i) Both are the great business modelling techniques,infact gold standards.

ii) Easy to use and understand.

iii) Portable to diverse environments due to standardized objects available.

iv) Scope for privilege difference at different levels.

Differences Between BPMN and UML

i) Since UML has 14 different types,understanding and interpreting them is harder than BPMN.

ii) Self designed symbols and objects can be used in BPMN but not in UML,

iii)BPMN is process oriented whereas UML is object oriented.

iv) BPMN can be seen as advanced or improved version of UML.

I prefer BPMN at my employer as it is superior to UML in all ways and as described it is improved vesion of UML.