Generalizing The Concept of Business Processes Structural Soundness from Classic Petri-nets to BPMN2.0 Process Models
Subject Areas : ICT
Yahya Poursoltani
1
,
Mohammad Hassan Shirali-Shahreza
2
*
,
S. Alireza Hashemi Golpayegani
3
1 - Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Amirkabir University of Technology (Tehran Polytechnic), Iran
2 - Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Amirkabir University of Technology (Tehran Polytechnic), Iran
3 - Department of Information Technology, Amirkabir University of Technology (Tehran Polytechnic), Iran
Keywords: Structural Soundness, BPMN2.0 Processes Models, Process Models, Liveness , Boundness,
Abstract :
BPMN2.0 Standard is a modeling language, which can be understood and used by a wide range of users. However, because of its non-formal nature, models (designed using it) can be containing structural errors such as Deadlock (impossibility of executing some of process tasks) and Livelock (infinite repetition of tasks) may be produced by using them. These semantic errors can create anomalies in the workflow of the organization. So far, some researches has been conducted on the validation of these process models and various solutions have been provided to discover some of these structural errors. The question that may be raised about these methods is whether it is possible to definitely guarantee the structural accuracy of a BPMN method model by using any of them? To answer this question, we need a comprehensive definition of a correct BPMN2.0 process model, based on which we can evaluate the comprehensiveness of validation methods and strongly make sure that the considered method can discover all of the structural errors of the process model. In this paper, based on concept of general process models and the concept of soundness (based on process models created using Petri nets) and the generalization of its properties, i.e. Liveness and Boundness to BPMN2.0 process models, a comprehensive definition for a correct (sound) BPMN2 process model provided. Then, the comprehensiveness of the suggested methods of some of the most important researches conducted has been evaluated based on it. This definition can be used as a measure for efficiency of BPMN validation methods.
Q. Nivon and G. Salaün, "Debugging of BPMN Processes Using Coloring Techniques," in Formal Aspects of Component Software, Cham, S. L. Tapia Tarifa and J. Proença, Eds., 2022// 2022: Springer International Publishing, pp. 90-109.
F. Huang, F. Ni, J. Liu, F. Yang, and J. Zhu, "A Colored Petri Net Executable Modeling Approach for a Data Flow Well-Structured BPMN Process Model," IEEE Access, vol. 10, pp. 86696-86709, 2022, doi: 10.1109/ACCESS.2022.3198969.
Y. Poursoltani, M. H. Shirali-Shahreza, and S. A. Hashemi Golpayegani, "Using Low-Code Development Platforms for developing Commercial Software based on Business Processes (wrote In Persian)," presented at the Conference: 26th International Computer Conference, Computer Society of Iran, Iran - Tehran, 1399 (In Persian). [Online]. Available: https://civilica.com/doc/1203571.
R. Waszkowski, "Low-code platform for automating business processes in manufacturing," IFAC-PapersOnLine, vol. 52, no. 10, pp. 376-381, 2019/01/01/ 2019, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ifacol.2019.10.060.
S. Braams, "Developing a Software Quality Framework for Low-Code Model Driven Development Platforms Based on Behaviour Driven Development Methodology.," presented at the 27th Twente Student Conference on IT, Enschede, The Netherlands., July 7th, 2017, 2017.
O. M. Kherbouche, A. Ahmad, and H. Basson, "Detecting structural errors in BPMN process models," in 2012 15th International Multitopic Conference (INMIC), 2012: IEEE, pp. 425-431.
O. M. Kherbouche, A. Ahmad, and H. Basson, "Using model checking to control the structural errors in BPMN models," IEEE 7th International Conference on Research Challenges in Information Science (RCIS), pp. 1-12, 2013.
T. M. Prinz, N. Spieß, and W. Amme, "A First Step towards a Compiler for Business Processes," Berlin, Heidelberg, 2014: Springer Berlin Heidelberg, in Compiler Construction, pp. 238-243.
M. Naoum, O. E. Hichami, M. A. Achhab, and B. E. E. Mohajir, "A probabilistic method for business process verification: Reachability, Liveness and deadlock detection," 2016 4th IEEE International Colloquium on Information Science and Technology (CiSt), pp. 128-132, 2016.
F. Corradini, A. Morichetta, C. Muzi, B. Re, and F. Tiezzi, "Well-structuredness, safeness and soundness: A formal classification of BPMN collaborations," Journal of Logical and Algebraic Methods in Programming, vol. 119, p. 100630, 2021/02/01/ 2021, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jlamp.2020.100630.
S. Meghzili, A. Chaoui, M. Strecker, and E. Kerkouche, "An Approach for the Transformation and Verification of BPMN Models to Colored Petri Nets Models," International Journal of Software Innovation (IJSI), vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 17-49, 2020, doi: 10.4018/IJSI.2020010102.
M. Weske, "Business Process Modelling Foundation," in Business Process Management: Concepts, Languages, Architectures. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 2012, pp. 73-124.
R. M. Dijkman, M. Dumas, and C. Ouyang, "Semantics and analysis of business process models in BPMN," Information and Software Technology, vol. 50, no. 12, pp. 1281-1294, 2008/11/01/ 2008, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infsof.2008.02.006.
C. Ou-Yang and Y. Lin, "BPMN-based business process model feasibility analysis: a petri net approach," International Journal of Production Research, vol. 46, no. 14, pp. 3763-3781, 2008.
T. Takemura, "Formal Semantics and Verification of BPMN Transaction and Compensation," in 2008 IEEE Asia-Pacific Services Computing Conference, 9-12 Dec. 2008 2008, pp. 284-290, doi: 10.1109/APSCC.2008.208.
K. Watahiki, F. Ishikawa, and K. Hiraishi, "Formal verification of business processes with temporal and resource constraints," in 2011 IEEE International Conference on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics, 9-12 Oct. 2011 2011, pp. 1173-1180, doi: 10.1109/ICSMC.2011.6083857.
J. G. Peter Y.H. Wong, "Property specifications for workflow modelling," Science of Computer Programming, vol. 76, no. 10, pp. 942-967, 2011, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scico.2010.09.007.
D. Falcioni, A. Polini, A. Polzonetti, and B. Re, "Livelock and Deadlock Detection for PA Inter-organizational Business Processes," in Advancing Democracy, Government and Governance, Berlin, Heidelberg, A. Kő, C. Leitner, H. Leitold, and A. Prosser, Eds., 2012// 2012: Springer Berlin Heidelberg, pp. 125-139.
O. M. Kherbouche, A. Ahmad, and H. Basson, "Using model checking to control the structural errors in BPMN models," in IEEE 7th International Conference on Research Challenges in Information Science (RCIS), 29-31 May 2013 2013, pp. 1-12, doi: 10.1109/RCIS.2013.6577723.
G. Barbon, V. Leroy, and G. Salaün, "Debugging of concurrent systems using counterexample analysis," in Fundamentals of Software Engineering: 7th International Conference, FSEN 2017, Tehran, Iran, April 26–28, 2017, Revised Selected Papers 7, 2017: Springer, pp. 20-34.
O. El Hichami, M. Naoum, M. Al Achhab, I. Berrada, and B. E. El Mohajir, "An Algebraic Method for Analysing Control Flow of BPMN Models," International Journal of Recent Contributions from Engineering, Science & IT (iJES), vol. 3, no. 3, pp. pp. 20-26, 10/19 2015, doi: 10.3991/ijes.v3i3.4862.
G. Decker, R. Dijkman, M. Dumas, and L. García-Bañuelos, "The Business Process Modeling Notation," in Modern Business Process Automation: YAWL and its Support Environment, A. H. M. Hofstede, W. M. P. Aalst, M. Adams, and N. Russell Eds. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 2010, pp. 347-368.
W. v. d. A. a. K. v. H. The, Workflow Management. Models, Methods, and Systems. Massachusetts London,England: MIT Press Cambridge, 2002.
R. Zurawski and M. Zhou, "Petri nets and industrial applications: A tutorial," IEEE Transactions on industrial electronics, vol. 41, no. 6, pp. 567-583, 1994.
O. E. Hichami, M. Naoum, M. A. Achhab, I. Berrada, and B. E. E. Mohajir, "An Algebraic Method for Analysing Control Flow of BPMN Models," Int. J. Recent Contributions Eng. Sci. IT, vol. 3, no. 3, pp. 20-26, / 2015. [Online]. Available: https://www.online-journals.org/index.php/i-jes/article/view/4862.
Y. Poursoltani, M. H. Shirali-Shahreza, and S. A. Hashemi Golpayegani, "Redefining the Soundness for BPMN2.0 Process Models, based on Petri nets," presented at the 5th National Conference on Advances in Enterprise Architecture (NCAEA), Mashhad- Iran, 2021. [Online]. (In Persian).Available: https://civilica.com/doc/1386000/.