Visualizing Large Business Process Models:
Challenges, Techniques, Applications
Manfred Reichert
Institute of Databases and Information Systems, Ulm University,Germany
manfred.reichert@uni-ulm.de
Abstract. Large process models may comprise hundreds or thousands
of process elements, like activities, gateways, and data objects. Present-
ing such process models to users and enabling them to interact with these
models constitute crucial tasks of any process-aware information systems
(PAISs). Existing PAISs, however, neither provide adequate techniques
for visualizing and abstracting process models nor for interacting with
them. In particular, PAISs do not provide tailored process visualizations
as needed in complex application environments. This paper presents ex-
amples of large process models and discusses some of the challenges to be
tackled when visualizing and abstracting respective models. Further, it
presents a comprehensive framework that allows for personalized process
model visualizations, which can be tailored to the specific needs of the
different user groups. First, process model complexity can be reduced
by abstracting the models, i.e., by eliminating or aggregating process
elements not relevant in the given visualization context. Second, the
appearance of process elements can be customized independent of the
process modeling language used. Third, different visualization formats
(e.g., process diagrams, process forms, and process trees) are supported.
Finally, it will be discussed how tailored visualizations of process models
may serve as basis for changing and evolving process models at a high
level of abstraction.
1 Introduction
Many companies have to deal with a large number of business processes involv-
ing numerous tasks, data objects, organizational entities, and resources. Usually,
these processes are captured in process models, which are stored in large pro-
cess repositories comprising hundreds or even thousands of process models [1]. In
turn, each of these process models may comprise a large number of activities and
involve a multitude of stakeholders. In practice, each stakeholder may require a
different perspective on the processes he or she is involved in, providing a cus-
tomized visualization and information granularity. For example, managers rather
prefer an abstract overview, whereas process actors need a detailed view of those
process parts they are involved in. Hence, a personalized process visualization is
a much needed feature to be provided by any process-aware information system
(PAIS).
Despite its practical importance, current PAISs do not offer adequate process
visualization support. Usually, process models are displayed to the user in the
same way as drawn by the process designer. However, these process models are
often too complex (see Fig. 1 for an example) and, hence, are not comprehensible
to end-users (e.g., when containing data transformation steps or other kinds of
technical activities). Some tools allow altering the graphical appearance of a
process and hiding selected process aspects (e.g., data flow). However, more
sophisticated and flexible process visualization concepts are still missing in most
PAISs.
PMS4:LargeProcessModel
Illustration.
One of our partners from the automotive domain has provided us with detailed insights into product
planning (PP), which constitutes a core process in vehicle development [1]. The part of the PP process
we considered, for example, comprises a large number of activities for planning production facilities
and resources. Furthermore, it defines the flow of about 50 relevant documents. When studying this
case we got access to a large model that was plotted on a 1,5 m x 5 m wallpaper - a fragment of this
process is depicted in Fig. XX1. Altogether, the PP process comprises several hundreds activities with
complex inter-dependencies. Furthermore, there exists a process handbook with detailed descriptions
of each activity. This handbook mainly serves for training purposes and provides detailed task
descriptions. – From interviews with process owners we have learned that the current model contains
several flaws, is known in its complete form to only very few experts, and is outdated in certain parts.
In particular, the model is considered as being too large and costly regarding its maintenance.
Interestingly, due to an enterprise-wide harmonization initiative the current process model needs to be
transformed into another notation as well as into a more comprehensible form.
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Fig.XX1:Fragmentoftheproductplanningprocesswithabout100activities
Reference
[1]Bobrik,Ralph(2008)ConfigurableVisualizationofComplexProcessModels.PhDThesis,
UniversityofUlm.
Fig. 1. Example of an engineering process model (partial view)
To elaborate basic visualization requirements we conducted several case stud-
ies [2], in which we identified three fundamental process visualization dimensions.
First, it must be possible to reduce complexity by hiding or aggregating process
information not relevant in the given context. Second, the notation and appear-
ance of process nodes (e.g., activities and data objects) shall be customizable.
Third, different visualization formats (e.g., process graph, table) need to be sup-
ported. This paper summarizes the Proviado framework that addresses all three
visualization dimensions. Section 2 summarizes basic considerations required for
understanding this paper. Section 3 presents the Proviado visualization frame-
work, while Section 4 illustrates its use by means of an example. Finally, next
steps in our research are discussed in Section 5.
2 Basic Considerations
Generally, any process visualization tool should distinguish between the model
and instance level (cf Fig. 2). The former gathers various enterprise models,
including organization, function, data, IT system, and process models. Thereby,
a process model refers to elements of the other models and comprises a set of
inter-connected activities, collectively realizing a certain business objective [3];
i.e., the activities are executed in a coordinated manner by different entities (e.g.,
humans and software agents) to reach process goals such as changing the design
of a product, delivering merchandise, or treating a patient [4]. Furthermore,
user- as well as pre-defined attributes may be associated with process models or
activities (e.g. costs, needed resources), and hence become relevant in the context
of process visualizations [5]. Examples of frameworks supporting the integrated
modeling of the different enterprise aspects include ArchiMate [6], ADONIS [7],
and ARIS [8].
Mdll l
It l l
U
dtdi
M
o
d
e
l
l
eve
l
I
ns
t
ance
l
eve
l
Organizational model
U
se
r
-a
d
ap
t
e
d
v
i
ews
Access control on visualization:
_______
_______
Access
control
on
visualization:
(a) Abstraction at the state level.
(b) Restricted view on activity
instances and activity
attributes.
Worklists
Functional
model
_
__
(a)
Process instances
Process model
D
8
DD
21
3
2
(a)
(b)
And-split And-join
………
………
………
Data model
A
ctivit
y
attributes ………
………
……….
………
………
………
……….
S
y
D: completed activity
IT-
S
ystem model : running activity
Fig. 2. Basic considerations
At the model level, a secure visualization of data related to a particular
process model is required. An example of such a process model is depicted in
Fig. 3. It shows a simplified model of a change request process as it can be
found in the automotive domain. More precisely, this process model comprises
five phases with 20 different activities in total. Furthermore, the control and
data flow between activities, exceptional paths, role assignments, and IT system
resources are shown.—Note that more complex variants of this change request
process exist in practice (see Fig. 4 for an example from the automotive domain).
Request
Expertises
3
Initiate Change
Request
1
Specify Involved
Parts
2
CR Initiator
Chief Eng.
CR Manager
Get Part Data
from PDM
4
Product Data
Mgmt System
Generate Body
Expertise
7
Transform Part Data
Types
5
for each part
Generate Electric
Expertise
6
Electric Eng.
Generate Engine
Expertise
8
Engine Eng.
Generate Engineering
Expertise
9
Chief Eng.
Body Eng.
Archive
Expertises
10
Document
Mgmt System
Request
Evaluations
11
CR Manager
Evaluate Quality
Influences
13
Evaluate Production
Planning
12
Planner
Evaluate Part
Costs
15
Purchaser
Approve Change
Request
16
CR Board
Quality Mgr
Identify Responsible
Purchaser by Part
14
Purchase
Planning
Rollback in Exceptions (Faults)
Phase I: Creation of CR
Phase II: Evaluation by Engineering
Phase III: Evaluation by other Domains
Phase IV: Decision
Phase V: Execution of Change
Archive
Decision
17
Document
Mgmt System
Instruct
Realization
18
CR Manager
Realize
Change
19
Resp. Eng.
Close Change
Request
20
CR Manager
Abort Change Request
Modify Change
Request
21
CR Manager
Change Reason,
Description, Involved
Vehicle Project, Plants
Part Names
PartNo, Weight,
Supplier, Costs
(in PDM format)
PartNo, Weight,
Supplier, Costs
+
+
Electric Expertise Body Expertise Engine Expertise
Engineering Expertise
Change Request
Document
Change Request
Document
Change Request
Document
Evaluation PP Evaluation Quality Evaluation Costs
Expertises
Change Request
Decision
Change Request
Document
x
x
x
x
A
A
A
A
22
26
24
23
25
activity ( automatic)
input / output data
A
x
role (actor) assigned
system called
AND split or join
XOR split or join
control-flow edge
data-flow edge
+
Fig. 3. Process model of a change request (CR)
Fig. 4. A more complex variant of a change request process
In this paper, we will use the process model from Fig. 3 to illustrate basic
process visualization concepts. Furthermore, we will show how a process model
may be enriched with run-time data and then be displayed to authorized users
[9]. Overall, flexible configuration and personalization of large process models
are fundamental for the user-friendly visualization of these models.
At the instance level, a secure monitoring of running process instances is
needed. More precisely, a process instance represents a particular enactment of
a business process model (i.e., a single business case). Artifacts such as user work
lists, activity execution states (e.g. Running), and invoked application services
are characteristic for the instance level and hence need to be considered [3].
3 The Proviado Framework
The Proviado framework targets at a flexible and configurable visualization of
large business process models and related process instances [2, 10, 11, 9]. In
particular, respective process visualizations must be customizable to the specific
needs of the different stakeholders involved the process [2]. In this context, three
dimensions need to be considered: First, it must be possible to reduce process
model complexity by eliminating or aggregating information not relevant in the
given context or for which the user does not have sufficient access rights. Sec-
ond, the appearance of process elements (e.g., activities, data objects, control
and data edges) should be customizable to user preferences, independent from
the way the source process model is represented. Third, different visualization
formats (e.g., process diagrams, Gantt charts, tables, or forms) need to be sup-
ported to cope with different user preferences.
For realizing a particular visualization of a process model and process in-
stance, respectively, Proviado allows specifying related visualization models sep-
arately from the given process model. Such a visualization model comprises a
number of configuration settings, which determine the process elements to be
displayed and the graphical notation to be used. In particular, respective con-
figuration settings can be specified at a high level of abstraction based on a
sophisticated process view concept as well as on a flexible template mechanism.
3.1 Process View Concept
The view generation approach provided by Proviado [11, 12] allows reducing the
complexity of business process models through abstracting them. This model
abstraction, in turn, is accomplished by applying well-defined transformation
rules, which rely on model reduction as well as model aggregation techniques.
As a result one obtains an abstracted process view of the original process model.
Model reduction operations may be applied in order to hide (i.e., delete) selected
elements of a process model. For example, consider Fig. 5: activities E,Fand
Gare removed from the process model and a new control edge is inserted in-
stead. Further, Fig. 5 illustrates the use of aggregation operations. For example,
Aggregate(B,C,H,K) aggregates four activities and replaces them by one ab-
stract node in the process model. Depending on the concrete structure of the
sub-graph, induced by the set of activities to be aggregated, different model
transformations become necessary. While in some cases simple model transfor-
mations are sufficient, in other scenarios a more complex restructuring of the
process model to be visualized is required. Generally, realizing model abstrac-
tions based on aggregation operations is more difficult compared to the use of
reduction operations. In particular, the relations the activities show in respect
to their satellite objects (e.g., data elements, organizational entities) need to be
preserved (cf. Fig. 5). Furthermore, for an abstracted node, its attribute values
must be determined based on the attributes of all activities aggregated. Finally,
aggregation operations are provided for all process aspects including data flow
and actor assignments [12].
It is noteworthy that the Proviado view-building operations maintain the
soundness of a process model if required. However, to introduce additional flex-
ibility for process visualization, operations may violate certain structural model
constraints if favorable (see [12] for a detailed discussion on this). Furthermore,
complex view-building operations based on elementary aggregation and reduc-
tion operations are provided; e.g., ”Show a process view containing all activities
performed by a particular user role.” Overall, these high-level view-building op-
erations ease the definition and creation of meaningful process views significantly
[12]).
3.2 Proviado Template Mechanism
While the described view-building approach allows us to define which process
elements shall be displayed, the Proviado Template Mechanism [10] enables a
flexible configuration of the graphical appearance of the different elements of
a process model. For this purpose, Proviado provides a sophisticated template
mechanisms. More precisely, a visualization template describes the concrete no-
tation (i.e. the symbols) to be used for visualizing a particular process element
transformations may have to be applied. While in some
cases the aggregated process view can be realized by
simple graph transformations, in other scenarios this
necessitates a more complex restructuring of the proc-
ess graph. Generally, aggregated process views are
more difficult to realize than reduced ones. In particu-
lar, relations to satellite objects (e.g., data elements,
org. roles) have to be preserved (cf. Fig. 1) and attrib-
ute values for the abstract activity node resulting from
the aggregation have to be calculated. Finally, aggrega-
tion operations are provided for all process aspects
including data flow, and actor assignments.
It is important to mention that view building opera-
tions as provided by Proviado maintain a well-
structured process model if desired. However, to intro-
duce additional flexibility for BP visualizations, opera-
tions “violating” structural model constraints (e.g. De-
leteEdge) are considered as well. Higher level opera-
tions built on top of aggregation and reduction opera-
tions exist that automatically derive the set of activities
to be processed. This facilitates maintenance of view
definition when changing the base process model.
Template Mechanism. While the described view
concept allows us to define which process elements
shall be displayed, the Template Mechanism (for de-
tails see [2]) enables us to configure the graphical ap-
pearance of the different elements. In this context a
template represents the concrete notation (i.e., the sym-
bols) to be used for visualizing a particular process
element (e.g., activity, data object). Its graphical ap-
pearance (e.g., shape, arrow) is described based on
Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG). By using this XML-
based format, to a large degree, we can define tem-
plates graphically with a standard SVG Editor.
Each template comprises a set of data fields (i.e.,
parameters) which can be filled with concrete process
data values (e.g., activity name or state) at visualization
time. We use XPath expressions to establish the rela-
tionship between symbol definition and data fields.
Required data transformations (e.g. date format conver-
sion) can be realized via ECMA-Script expressions.
Altogether, a complete notation for BP visualization
consists of a set of templates. More precisely, each
process element has to be linked to a template. This
link can be established statically (i.e., remain un-
changed) or dynamically based on selected process
data (e.g., the runtime status of the process element).
The latter allows, for instance, to use different symbols
for activities, e.g., depending on their state or on the
actor working on them. Finally, Cascading Style Sheets
are used to vary the look of process drawings.
All in all the sketched Template Mechanism allows
us to use a process notation in an unambiguous and
easy to maintain manner. In combination with the view
concept personalized BP visualizations become possi-
ble. While non-relevant process elements can be re-
moved or aggregated with other objects, the visualiza-
tion of relevant process elements can be adapted to
specific user or application needs.
Fig. 1 Proviado Process View Concept
Request
Expertises
3
Initiate Change
Request
1
Specify Involved
Parts
2
CR Initiator
Chief Eng.
CR Manager
Get Part Data
from PDM
4
Product Data
Mgmt System
Generate Body
Expertise
7
Transform Part Data
Types
5
for each part
split parallel
Generate Electric
Expertise
6
Electric Eng.
Generate Engine
Expertise
8
Engine Eng.
Generate Engineering
Expertise
9
Chief Eng.
Body Eng.
Archive
Expertises
10
Document
Mgmt System
Request
Evaluations
11
CR Manager
Evaluate Quality
Influences
13
split parallel
Evaluate Production
Planning
12
Planner
Evaluate Part
Costs
15
Purchaser
Approve Change
Request
16
CR Board
Quality Mgr
Identify Responsible
Purchaser by Part
14
Purchase
Planning
Rollback in Exceptions (Faults)
Phase I: Creation of CR
Phase II: Evaluation by Engineering
Phase III: Evaluation by other Domains
Phase IV: Decision
Phase V: Execution of Change
Archive
Decision
17
Document
Mgmt System
Instruct
Realization
18
CR Manager
Realize
Change
19
Resp. Eng.
Close Change
Request
20
CR Manager
Abort Change Request
Modify Change
Request
21
CR Manager
…
22
26
24
23
25
Change Reason,
Description, Involved
Vehicle Project, Plants
Part Names
PartNo, Weight,
Supplier, Costs
(in PDM format)
PartNo, Weight,
Supplier, Costs
activity
role (actor) assigned
system called by CR system
input / output data
split or loop branch
activity
role (actor) assigned
system called by CR system
input / output data
split or loop branch
Fig. 2
Base process of the Change Request (CR)
Fig. 5. Proviado view concept
(e.g. an activity or a data object). Its graphical appearance (e.g. shape, arrow),
in turn, is described using SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics). Based on this XML
format, to a large degree, templates may be graphically defined using a standard
SVG Editor.
Each template comprises a set of data fields (i.e. parameters) that may be
filled with concrete process attribute values (e.g. activity name or activity state)
at visualization time. Proviado uses XPath expressions to establish the relation-
ship between symbol definition and data fields. Required data transformations
(e.g. date format conversion) can be realized via ECMA-Script expressions. Al-
together, a complete notation for process visualization comprises a set of tem-
plates. More precisely, each process element must be linked to a template. This
link can be established statically (i.e. remain unchanged) or dynamically based
on selected process data (e.g. depending on the runtime status of the process ele-
ment). For example, the latter enables the use of different symbols for activities,
e.g. depending on their state or the actor working on them. Finally, Cascad-
ing Style Sheets are used to vary the look of process drawings. Fig. 6 shows an
example of a respective template.
Overall, the Proviado template mechanism allows for the use of a tailored
process notation in a non-ambiguous and easy to maintain manner. In combina-
tion with the view concept described above, personalized process visualizations
become possible. While non-relevant process elements can be removed or aggre-
gated with other objects, the visualization of relevant process elements can be
customized to specific user or application needs.
Promotionskolloquium Ralph Bobrik, DBIS, Universität Ulm / 05.06.2008 74
Proviado-Templates
Abbildung der Verwendungsregeln
if obj.type = „node“
else case obj.nodetype =
„activity“
„actor“
actor_name
if obj.acttype = „testing“
test goal
TEST
else
Name
AttrValue
Symbol
AttrValue
AttrValue
AttrValue
state
...
if obj.type = „edge“
...
case obj.edgetype =
„control flow“
„data flow“
...
in: ProcessObject obj
<if test="self.type=ACTOR">
<template id="actor">
<inputs>
<input name="actor" value="self"/>
</inputs>
</template>
</if>
<if test="self.type=ACTIVITY">
<choose>
<case test="self.type='testing'">
<template ref="testing_act">
<inputs>
<input name="act" value="self"/>
</inputs>
</template>
</case>
<otherwise>
<template ref="default_act">
<inputs>
<input name="act" value="self"/>
</inputs>
</template>
</otherwise>
</choose>
</if>
Fig. 6. Example of a Proviado template
3.3 Proviado Visualization Formats
In addition to the two visualization dimensions presented so far, Proviado en-
ables different visualization formats for one and the same business process and
further allows users to dynamically switch between these different visualizations.
Examples include process diagrams, Gantt charts, trees (see [13] for a concrete
approach), tables, and form-based visualizations (cf. Fig. 7).
3.4 Configuring a Process Visualization
Fig. 8 summarizes the basic steps required to automatically generate a particular
process visualization. The starting point is an integrated process model, which
correlates fragmented process data from different source information systems in
a harmonized way. First, we restrict the visualization to that information needed
by a particular user (S0). This is realized by a view component, which applies
the sketched aggregation and reduction techniques to the given process model.
Step S0 is followed by formatting steps S1, S2, and S3: S1 fixes the graphical
symbols designed for the different process elements. For this purpose, Proviado
considers information from a visualization model; S2 fills graphical symbols with
real attribute values related to the process model or process instance that shall
be displayed. Finally, in step S3 formatting parameters are customized to user
preferences, e.g. by coloring the process visualization in accordance to cooperate
identity guidelines.
Promotionskolloquium Ralph Bobrik, DBIS, Universität Ulm / 05.06.2008 100
Abt. XY.BAbt. XY-AAbt. XY-C
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4t15.11.200510.11.2005BBB
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7t24.11.200516.11.2005CCC
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4t30.11.200525.11.2005DDD
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12t01.12.200516.11.2005EEE
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5t08.12.200502.12.2005FFF
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5t15.12.200509.12.2005GGG
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Fig. 7. Examples of different visualization formats
visualization model
D
B
C
AE
process model
X
P1
P2 P2
P3 P1
instance data
A.state = running
...
X.link = file://X.doc
process (SVG)
build
view
S0 S1 S2 S3
assign
symbols
document:
activity:
actor:
fill up
symbols adapt
style
name
name
symbol:
activity_def
color:
P1:
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activity
name activity
name
values :
A
fonts:
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actor: Arial 7pt
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&
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X
P1 P1
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name=“A“
state=“running“
"remove
activities of
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Fig. 4. Role of the Visualization Model in generating a process visualization
3.1 Template Mechanism
To enable the flexible configuration of the used process notation, we introduce
a sophisticated template mechanism. Key design criteria have been Req. 1–3,
with the reuse of existing templates in mind. The mechanism is subdivided in
two parts: the description of the symbols and definition of their usage.
Describing Symbols A template definition consists of three specification parts
(cf. Fig. 6a): 1) input parameters of the template, where references to process
elements are handed over; 2) representation of the symbol in SVG; 3) parameters
(e.g. name of activity, activity state, starting time, etc.) to be filled with process
data values. As mentioned, we adopted SVG as format for defining graphical
symbols because of its XML-based syntax and the general advantages of vec-
tor graphics over raster graphics. This also allows for the easy definition of
process symbols by using off-the-shelf SVG editors. In our approach each tem-
plate defines exactly one symbol with its graphical characteristics (e.g. shapes
and text areas). The text areas (i.e., parameters of the template) are filled by
concrete values from the process model/instance to be displayed. Within the pa-
rameter sections, XPath expressions (relative to the SVG-symbol root) are used
to describe the location of the corresponding text area (location attribute).
As process data values may need to be transformed before presenting them to
the user (e.g. converting an internal date format into a standard format; cf.
Fig. 6b) the value attribute may comprise of code in a scripting language (e.g.
JavaScript). Via these scriptlets it is further possible to access all kind of pro-
cess data and to arrange it using arbitrary scripting functions (cf. parameter
endtime in Fig. 6 a). For expressing special formatting options dependent on ar-
bitrary process attributes, if-then-else or choice structures may be used. Hereby
the evaluation conditions are expressed by also using JavaScript.
Fig. 5 shows an example for an activity template. The right side depicts the
symbol definition based on SVG. On the left, corresponding parameter defini-
tions are shown. Among other things they illustrate the mechanisms used to
reference the locations of the data values inside the symbol. A choice construct
is used to determine the correct process state symbol for activity nodes.
Fig. 8. Generating a process visualization in Proviado
4 Application Example
Consider again the process model from Fig. 3. Assume that an instance of this
process shall be visualized for an actor from the engineering domain. For this
purpose, non-relevant process elements have to be discarded. Automated steps
for transforming and exchanging data (e.g. Steps 4 and 5), for example, shall
not be displayed. The same applies to selected interactive steps (e.g. Steps 2
and 3). Finally, control edges capturing forward and backward jumps shall be
removed. Altogether this process view can be realized by applying the following
view-building operations (listed in brackets for each operation):
Aggregation:1{1, 2},{11, 12, 13, 14, 15}
Reduction:{3},{4, 5},{10},{17, 18},{20},{21}
DeleteEdge:{22, 23, 24},{25, 26}
The resulting process view would still contain a large number of satellite
nodes (representing actors, systems, etc.) which usually shall not be displayed.
Proviado visualization models allow omitting such nodes and assigning their
data values to other visualization objects, e.g. activity boxes (cf. Fig. 9). Fur-
thermore, with the Proviado Template Mechanism any desired appearance of the
process view to be displayed can be realized. For example, the visualization from
Fig. 9 contains information like change reason, change description, and involved
product parts. Furthermore, a header has been added. Other data like a detailed
change request (CR) description can be accessed via a tool tip. Finally, activities
being of particular importance for engineers are highlighted.
Fig. 9. Visualization of a CR process instance for engineers
Note that the created process drawing (cf. Fig. 9) constitutes one possible
abstracted visualization of the process model from Fig. 3. Depending on specific
user requirements, for example, Proviado allows providing different visualiza-
tions of the same process view, e.g. using a standardized notation like BPMN.
Basic to this exchangeability of visual representations is the Proviado Template
Mechanism. Generally, different information and layouts can be presented. Fur-
thermore, new process views (with same or different appearance) can be easily
realized. For example, for managers each of the five phases of the CR process
could be aggregated to one single activity and only information about deadlines,
delays, resources, and the final decision be visualized (cf. Fig. 10)
1Each operation is listed in brackets. The aggregations result in activities ”Request
Creation” and ”CR Evaluation”
Fig. 10. Visualization of a CR process instance for managers
5 What are the Next Steps?
In the meantime, several other approaches for creating process model abstrac-
tions based on process views have been proposed (e.g., [14, 15, 16]). Like Provi-
ado, these proposals focus on creating and visualizing abstracted process views,
but do not consider another fundamental aspect of PAISs: change and evolution
[3, 17]. More precisely, they do not allow changing a large process model through
editing or updating any of its view-based abstractions. As a consequence, pro-
cess changes still must be directly applied to the original process model, which
constitutes a complex as well as error-prone task for domain experts, particu-
larly when confronted with large process models. To overcome this limitation, in
addition to view-based process abstractions, users should be allowed to change
large process models through updating respective process views. However, this
must not be accomplished in an uncontrolled manner to avoid inconsistencies or
errors.
In the proView project we address these and other challenges by providing
powerful view-creation operations similar to the ones suggested in the context
of Proviado; i.e., the operations allow abstracting process models through the
reduction and aggregation of process elements as well as through changes of
the process model notation. In addition, view-update operations allow adapting
process views and propagating the respective changes to the underlying process
model as well as to other related process views [18, 19]. A series of user exper-
iments is planned to evaluate whether process model abstractions and tailored
process visualizations contribute to ease the change and evolution of complex
process models.
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