Automatic generation of business process models from user stories

In this paper, we propose an automated approach to extract business process models from requirements, which are presented as user stories. In agile software development, the user story is a simple description of the functionality of the software. It is presented from the user's point of view and is written in natural language. Acceptance criteria are a list of specifications on how a new software feature is expected to operate. Our approach analyzes a set of acceptance criteria accompanying the user story, in order, first, to automatically generate the components of the business model, and then to produce the business model as an activity diagram which is a unified modeling language (UML) behavioral diagram. We start with the use of natural language processing (NLP) techniques to extract the elements necessary to define the rules for retrieving artifacts from the business model. These rules are then developed in Prolog language and imported into Python code. The proposed approach was evaluated on a set of use cases using different performance measures. The results indicate that our method is capable of generating correct and accurate process models

Qualitative Metrics for Development Technologies Evaluation in Database-driven Information Systems

Database-driven information systems are nowadays widespread in various application domains. The technologies employed to manage the database itself are generally built on the same data model – the relational model – and their evolution is mainly related to their physical performances, without significant changes in their conceptual foundation. By contrast, the user interface development technologies are changing at an increasing pace, which cause important problems related to learning costs and compatibilities with the existing systems. This paper provides a set of qualitative metrics which can be used to evaluate and compare different technologies, based on the most important conceptual objectives of database-driven information systems

La inteligencia de negocios y la analítica de datos en los procesos empresariales

Business intelligence and data analytics in business processes are applied in several organizational sectors, the latter represents a competitive advantage factor, for this purpose it is necessary to use technological tools and to define the processes that allow generating mature management models, while business intelligence and data analytics represent, as a business strategy, an important factor in performance and decision-making. The objective was to establish a theoretical framework of business intelligence and data analytics in business processes, in this article journal, articles indexed in SCOPUS, Web of Science and Scielo were reviewed through the use of academic google, the review range was between 2017 and 2021. The results revealed that the business intelligence and data analytics solutions are most frequently applied in the business sector and empirical methodology is moreover the most widely applied. It was concluded that this study constitutes a theoretical framework for future research on business intelligence and data analytics in business processes.La inteligencia de negocios y la analítica de datos en los procesos empresariales se aplican en varios sectores organizacionales, este último representa un factor de ventaja competitiva, para este fin es necesario utilizar herramientas tecnológicas y definir los procesos que permitan generar modelos maduros de gestión, mientras que la inteligencia de negocios y la analítica de datos representan, como estrategia empresarial, es un factor importante de rendimiento y toma de decisiones. El objetivo fue establecer un marco de referencia teórica de la inteligencia de negocios y la analítica de datos en los procesos empresariales, en este artículo se revisaron artículos de revista indizadas en SCOPUS, Web of Science y Scielo a través del uso de google académico, el rango de revisión fue entre los años 2017 y 2021. Los resultados revelaron que el sector empresarial es donde se aplican con mayor frecuencia las soluciones en inteligencia de negocios y analítica de datos, además la metodología empírica es la más aplicada. Se concluyó que este estudio constituye un marco de referencia teórica para futuras investigaciones sobre la inteligencia de negocios y la analítica de datos en los procesos empresariales

Modelagem de processos e diretrizes de compreensibilidade: uma aplicação em um processo de matrícula em cursos superiores de um Instituto Federal

Process Management is an important tool to increase the efficiency of organizations. Process modeling is one of the most crucial aspects of this approach, through which processes can be graphically represented (diagrammatic modeling), enabling the expansion of knowledge, analysis, and the proposal of improvements. This technique has been widely used in Brazilian public institutions, with many documented benefits such as process optimization, waste reduction, support for decision-making, and proposal of improvements. However, ensuring the quality of models is essential for the modeling efforts to achieve their objectives. One of the most important aspects of the pragmatic quality of models (related to the use of models by organizations) is comprehensibility. An important tool for building more understandable models is the application of modeling guidelines; however, the number of guidelines scattered throughout the literature is high, with some studies reporting up to 50 different guidelines. Additionally, complex processes may require a higher level of detail, which can make the model more difficult to understand. Considering this, this research sought to answer how to model processes with a high level of detail, with the support of modeling guidelines to ensure that the models are understandable to their users. To achieve this, the modeling of a process was carried out considering comprehensibility guidelines found in the scientific literature. The research procedure adopted was Modeling, based on the scheme proposed by Mitroff et al. (1974). The modeled process was the analysis of enrollment requests in higher education courses at a federal institute. To assess compliance with comprehensibility guidelines, the Understandability Verifier for Business Process Models (BEBOP) tool proposed by Corradini et al. (2018) was used. Based on this evaluation, adjustments were made to the model based on recommendations found in the literature. A verification and validation procedure for models called Verification and Validation of Diagrammatic Models (V&V-DM) was also applied. As a result, the research presented an integrative systematic review on the subject, the enrollment process model constructed based on the guidelines, and a report on the procedures adopted for the evaluation and redesign of the model. The integrative review provided an overview of scientific studies on the subject, emphasizing what has already been studied and the existing gaps. The produced models represent the enrollment process comprehensively and enable process management and knowledge transmission at the federal institute. The report on the evaluation and redesign procedure of the model can support other research on the subject and contribute to improving the process modeling of public and private organizations. As a technical product, in addition to the process model, a Best Practices in Modeling Manual was also developed, considering the guidelines found in the literature to provide practical solutions for building more understandable models.A Gestão de Processos é uma importante ferramenta para aumentar a eficiência das organizações. A modelagem de processos é uma das partes mais importantes dessa abordagem, por meio da qual os processos podem ser representados de forma gráfica (modelagem diagramática), possibilitando a ampliação do conhecimento, a análise e a proposição de melhorias. Esta técnica tem sido amplamente utilizada nas instituições públicas brasileiras, com muitos benefícios documentados (otimização dos processos, redução de desperdícios, apoio à tomada de decisão e proposição de melhorias). Contudo, a garantia da qualidade dos modelos é essencial para que os esforços de modelagem alcancem seus objetivos. Um dos aspectos mais importantes da qualidade pragmática dos modelos (relativos à utilização dos modelos pelas organizações) é a compreensibilidade. Uma importante ferramenta para a construção de modelos mais compreensíveis é a aplicação das diretrizes de modelagem, entretanto, o número de diretrizes espalhadas pela literatura é alto, com alguns trabalhos relatando até 50 diretrizes diferentes. Além disso, processos complexos podem exigir um nível maior de detalhamento, o que pode tornar o modelo mais difícil de compreender. Diante disso, esta pesquisa buscou responder como modelar processos com alto nível de detalhamento, com apoio das diretrizes de modelagem a fim de garantir que os modelos sejam compreensíveis para seus usuários. Para isso, realizou-se a modelagem de um processo considerando as diretrizes de compreensibilidade encontradas na literatura científica. O procedimento de pesquisa adotado foi a Modelagem, baseado no esquema proposto por Mitroff et al. (1974). O processo modelado foi o de análise de solicitação de matrícula em cursos superiores de um Instituto Federal. Para avaliar o atendimento às diretrizes de compreensibilidade, utilizou-se a ferramenta Verificador de Compreensibilidade para Modelos de Processos de Negócios (Understandability Verifier For Business Process Models - BEBOP) proposta por Corradini et al. (2018). A partir dessa avaliação foram realizados ajustes no modelo com base nas recomendações encontradas na literatura. Aplicou-se também um procedimento de verificação e validação de modelos denominado Verificação e Validação de Modelos Diagramáticos (Verification and Validation of Diagrammatic Models - V&V-DM). Como resultado, a pesquisa apresentou uma revisão sistemática integrativa sobre o tema, o modelo do processo de matrículas construído com base nas diretrizes e o relato sobre os procedimentos adotados para a avaliação e redesenho do modelo. A revisão integrativa forneceu um panorama dos estudos científicos sobre o tema, enfatizando o que já foi estudado e as lacunas ainda existentes. Os modelos produzidos representam o processo de matrículas de forma completa e possibilitam a gestão do processo e a transmissão do conhecimento no Instituto Federal. E o relato do procedimento de avaliação e redesenho do modelo pode subsidiar outras pesquisas sobre o tema e colaborar com a melhoria da modelagem de processos das organizações públicas e privadas. Como produto técnico, além do modelo do processo, foi elaborado também um Manual de Boas Práticas em Modelagem, que considerou as diretrizes encontradas na literatura para fornecer soluções práticas para a construção de modelos mais compreensíveis