Formalization and Model Checking of BPMN Collaboration Diagrams with DD-LOTOS

Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) is a standard graphical notation for modeling complex business processes. Given the importance of business processes, the modeling analysis and validation stage for BPMN is essential. In recent years, BPMN notation has become a widespread practice in business process modeling because of these intuitive diagrams. BPMN diagrams are built from basic elements. The major challenge of BPMN diagrams is the lack of formal semantics, which leads to several interpretations of the concerned diagrams. Hence, this work aims to propose an approach for checking BPMN collaboration diagrams to guarantee some properties of smooth functioning of systems modeled by BPMN notation. The verification approach used in this work is based on model checking techniques. The approach proposes as a first step a formal semantics of the collaboration diagrams in terms of the formal language DD-LOTOS, i.e., a phase of the transformation of collaboration diagrams into DD-LOTOS. This transformation is guided by applying the inference rules of the formal semantics of the DD-LOTOS formal language, and we then use the UPPAAL model checker to check the absence of deadlock, safety properties, and liveness properties

Correctness checking for BPMN collaborations with sub-processes

BPMN collaboration models are commonly used to describe the behaviour and interactions of processes in an inter-organisational context. An important role in this kind of models is played both by the message flow, and by sub-processes. The interplay between these features of BPMN models can conceal subtle or unexpected effects, which makes the design activity error-prone, thus leading to the possible inclusion of incorrect behaviour. In this paper, we face this problem by providing a framework for checking the correctness of BPMN models. In particular we are interested on collaboration models that include message exchange and/or sub-processes, and with a special focus on properties well-established in the business process domain, namely safeness and soundness. To enable such a verification, we have (i) defined an operational semantics for BPMN collaborations, (ii) formalised safeness and soundness properties, and a new relaxed version of soundness for detecting situations where asynchronous messages are not handled correctly by the receiver, (iii) applied the related checks on state-space representations (i.e., labelled transition systems) of collaborations, and (iv) implemented the overall formal framework that has been also integrated in the Camunda modelling environment. The resulting verification framework and tool, named S3, have been validated in relation to its effectiveness, efficiency and usability, both by using models available on a publicly accessible repository, and by carrying out experiments with a group of designers

Aplicação do pensamento enxuto em ambientes administrativos públicos por meio da técnica business process model and notation: uma pesquisa-ação no IFSP Campus São José dos Campos

The objective of this work was to implement Lean Thinking associated with BPMN to improve the efficiency of the purchasing process of a Federal Institute. As a result, an increase in efficiency and effectiveness in this environment was proven, through an increase in the value delivered and a reduction in the amount of waste present. To achieve these goals, initially, an analysis of the existing literature was carried out on what involves Lean Thinking, Efficiency in Public Administration, Business Process Model and Notation and the use of Business Process Model and Notation in the application of Lean Thinking concepts to increase efficiency in Public Administration by reducing waste. From the standpoint of methodological procedures, this research is classified as action research. Data were collected from the object of study represented by the purchasing process of a campus of the Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of São Paulo, using a questionnaire, informed and documentary techniques, between the period 2019 and 2020. This work contributed, theoretically, with the scarce literature on Lean Thinking applied to public administrative environments, and applied, first, for a better identification of value specification by internal and external customers in the purchasing process, allowing an improvement in the efficiency of its results, and, second, for a reduction in the lead time of the purchasing process from 199.2 to 42.6 days, allowing an improvement in the efficiency of its resources. Finally, a synergy between Lean Thinking and the Business Process Model and Notation observed in the referred object of study of this research should be highlightedO objetivo deste trabalho foi de implementar o Pensamento Enxuto associado com o BPMN para melhorar a eficiência do processo de compras de um Instituto Federal. Comprovou-se, com isso, o aumento da eficiência e eficácia nesse ambiente, por meio do aumento no valor entregado e da diminuição dos desperdícios presentes. Para atingir tais objetivos, inicialmente foi realizada uma análise da literatura existente acerca daquilo que envolve Pensamento Enxuto, Eficiência na Administração Pública, Business Process Model and Notation e utilização do Business Process Model and Notation na aplicação dos conceitos do Pensamento Enxuto para aumento de eficiência na Administração Pública por meio da diminuição dos desperdícios. Sob o ponto de vista dos procedimentos metodológicos, classifica-se essa pesquisa como pesquisa ação. Os dados foram coletados do objeto de estudo representado pelo processo de compras de um campus do Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia de São Paulo, utilizando se questionário, entrevistas e técnicas documentais, entre o período de 2019 e 2020. Esse trabalho contribuiu, de forma teórica, com a escassa literatura voltada ao Pensamento Enxuto aplicado aos ambientes administrativos públicos, e de forma aplicada, primeiro, para uma melhor identificação da especificação de valor pelos clientes internos e externos do processo de compras, permitindo uma melhora da eficácia dos seus resultados e, segundo, para uma redução do lead time do processo de compras de 199,2 para 42,6 dias, permitindo uma melhora da eficiência dos seus recursos. Por fim, deve-se destacar a sinergia entre Pensamento Enxuto e Business Process Model and Notation observada no referido objeto de estudo desta pesquisa