What Is BPMN Method and Style?

Last week I presented a webinar on BPMN Modeling with Method and Style that explains what it’s all about. You can see the recording by clicking here. Or click here to download the slides.

By Bruce Silver|2018-05-07T10:31:23-07:00May 7th, 2018|BPMN|3 Comments

About the Author: Bruce Silver

3 Comments

Gerald G. Divinagracia August 5, 2019 at 12:48 pm

Hello Bruce,

I have a question on your BPMN rules #’s:

19: Don’t use an XOR gateway to merge alternative paths, unless into another gateway. Just connect the sequence flows directly.
20: Don’t use an AND gateway to join parallel paths into a None end event. A join is always implied at a None end event.

Why is this so? It doesn’t explicitly explain why tis is not a “good” practice. I’ve been taught from my Masters in BPM (QUT) that whenever you use an XOR or AND split gateways, as much as possible, close it with a JOIN. The reasoning behind it is that when we do a “token game” for logical and simulation analysis, the model explicitly provides the necessary information needed. However, I would like to understand why this is not the case fro your end and the reasoning behind it. Please kindly advise. Thanks muh.

Gerald
Bruce Silver August 5, 2019 at 6:55 pm

Today I am more accepting of those things. The merge gateways are redundant to the direct merge semantics, which is why I say leave them out. The join into a None end event at least has the merit of emphasizing that both paths must complete . I suspect the QUT style has to do with mapping to Petri nets- not sure. In the BPMN 1.1/1.2 era we suffered through block-structured gateways in order to accommodate BPEL. BPMN 2.0 was an explicit rejection of that.
Gerald G. Divinagracia August 11, 2019 at 7:12 am

Thank you for your response Bruce. Indeed, QUT map the models to Petri Nets.

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What Is BPMN?

BPMN 2.0 is the industry standard for business process modeling, defining the flow of activities comprising an end-to-end business process. It is a common language shared by business and IT users, in uses ranging from documentation to process analysis and improvement to execution on an automation engine.

What Is DMN?

DMN is the industry standard for business decision modeling and execution without programming. A DMN model defines the structure of a business decision end-to-end and details the decision logic entirely in diagrams and tables... no programming required.

What Is Low-Code Business Automation?

By combining BPMN and DMN, you can create executable processes and pageflow apps without programming... entirely based on standards.

What Is Method and Style?

The BPMN standard defines a vocabulary of shapes and symbols that is widely used for documenting and analyzing business processes, but does not provide any methodology or guidance for using the language effectively. Method and Style applies additional conventions and methods on top of the BPMN specification to ensure that the process logic is revealed clearly and completely from the printed diagram.

Professionalize Your Business Modeling

Companies waste enormous resources on creating models that cannot be understood by all stakeholders in business and IT. It doesn't have to be that way. Methodandstyle.com helps you professionalize your business modeling with training, learning resources, news and commentary.

Jump-Start Your Digital Transformation

The combination of BPMN and DMN enables Business Automation based on Low-Code - diagrams and tables, not programming. We provide training, consulting and mentoring to jump-start your digital transformation efforts.

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What Is BPMN Method and Style?