Human and automatic modularizations of process models to enhance their comprehension

• Published in: Information systems (Oxford) Vol. 36; no. 5; pp. 881 - 897
• Main Authors: Reijers, H.A., Mendling, J., Dijkman, R.M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01-07-2011
• Subjects: Automated discovery; Business; Business Process Modeling; Criteria; Empirical analysis; Empirical test; Exploration; Information systems; Mathematical models; Modularity; Modularization; Business Process Modeling; Automated discovery; Modularity; Empirical test
• ISSN: 0306-4379; 1873-6076
• DOI: 10.1016/j.is.2011.03.003

Modularization is a widely advocated mechanism to manage a business process model's size and complexity. However, the widespread use of subprocesses in models does not rest on solid evidence for its benefits to enhance their comprehension, nor are the criteria clear how to identify subprocesses. In this paper, we describe an empirical investigation to test the effectiveness of using subprocesses in real-life process models. Our results suggest that subprocesses may foster the understanding of a complex business process model by their “information hiding” quality. Furthermore, we explored different categories of criteria that can be used to automatically derive process fragments that seem suitable to capture as subprocesses. From this exploration, approaches that consider the connectedness of subprocesses seem most attractive to pursue. This insight can be used to develop tool support for the modularization of business process models.
► This study looks into the use of subprocesses in business process models. ► It provides empirical evidence that subprocess usage may improve understanding. ► An evaluation of various automated approaches for subprocess discovery is included.