The Process: Business Process Modeling using BPMN

The Process, unlike most explanations of BPMN, captures both the practical value and the excitement that results from putting this powerful technique to work. Skip the dull training. Give people the right tools and pass around copies of this book. Process diagrams will start growing like ivy. ––Dan Woods, CTO and Editor of Evolved Media.
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Houston, we‘ve got a problem. Business process management is clearly recognized as the key to competitive advantage, especially during economic downturns. But the needed tools and techniques for process modeling and design have been arcane. Even worse, business people have been largely sidelined in process improvement initiatives due to the technical obscurity of the endeavors. Yet, capturing their knowledge is the foundation of any useful process model. Enter the Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN), a graphical notation for business process modeling––and this book.

The notation, however, isn‘t the issue; just go to BPMI.org and download the specifications. The critical issue is instilling a way of thinking that brings shared insight into the process of process modeling; something more a matter of thought patterns than notation. This book uses a fast–paced novel format that is based on a real company that the authors guided through the process modeling process. In short, this book is about process thinking, and process modeling as the path to business innovation.
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Tom‘s journey exploring process modeling will make BPMN even more popular. He also learns fundamentals of system analysis, business process management, relation of process modeling with IT and process model verification – often unconsciously. And Anne, his mentor, demonstrates the high value of coaching and governance in it.––Frank Michael Kraft, Development Architect SAP AG, Research & Breakthrough Innovation, BPM Cluster

The authors teach the key points of BPMN modeling using an unfolding business scenario, presented in an engaging dialogue between the modeler, process participants, and the CEO. By putting BPMN in a business context, the book will be of great value to those new to process modeling, especially business people who will be asked to contribute input, even though they are not actually doing the modeling.––Bruce Silver, Principal, Bruce Silver Associates.

The unique selling point of the book is the way the concepts are interweaved in examples that we all see on an everyday basis. Highly recommended if you are a part of any BPM initiative. Tom‘s notes at the end of each chapter are a valuable takeaway for the reader. You would be ready to be an in–house BPMN expert by the time you are able to take your eyes off the book!––Vishal Saxena, Senior Development Manager, Oracle Corporation, and blogger: Things BPMN.

When we hear the term ‘‘process modeling,‘‘ we think of the person who does the modeling, the business analyst, not the business people whose work is being modeled. To be effective, business people should also have a working knowledge of the modeling process. This easy–to–read book isn‘t just for business analysts, it‘s also for every business person that will be involved in the process of process modeling.––Derek Miers, Principal, BPM Focus, and coauthor of BPMN Modeling and Reference Guide.

In 2002, CSC‘s Howard Smith and I wrote Business Process Management: The Third Wave, the book that launched widespread understanding of BPM and its importance. But understanding alone is not enough. You need tools. But even more, you need the right way of thinking to use the tools. You need to learn the process of business process modeling using the tool, BPMN, and that‘s why you need this book.––Peter Fingar, Executive Partner, Greystone Group, and author of Extreme Competition.

About the Author:

The authors are members of the Business Process Technology research group of the Hasso Plattner Institute for IT Systems Engineering at the University of Potsdam, Germany.

The group is led by Professor Mathias Weske, who has 15 years of experience in research and teaching workflow technology and business process management. He is also the author of the textbook, Business Process Management: Concepts, Languages, Architectures.

Alexander Grosskopf and Gero Decker, hold Masters degrees in IT Systems Engineering and are researchers in business process management, with both academic and industry experience. They work with key contributors to the BPMN standardization body, OMG, in the areas of execution semantics and choreographies.

The authors actively promote the value of business process management and professional process–based communication. The authors teach business process technology and BPMN to university students, industry professionals and administrative staff in the public sector.