BPMN Elements

Learning BPMN is similar to learning a programming language; while you can read overviews and short quick guides or watch video tutorials, the best thing you can do to get to grips is make sure you understand the basics, then start mapping out your business processes while reading the documentation whenever you’re not sure how to represent something.

Rules of the BPMN Notation

A key element of BPMN is the visual appearance of the diagram in terms of the shapes and icons used for the graphical elements. These MUST conform to the shapes and markers as defined in the BPMN specification.

The specification may be extended by associating new markers or indicators with graphical elements e.g. to highlight a specific attribute of an activity or to create a new type of event.

Specification extensions can also include coloring an object or changing a line style of an object, providing that the change does not conflict with any BPMN defined line style.

Rules of the BPMN Notation

A key element of BPMN is the visual appearance of the diagram in terms of the shapes and icons used for the graphical elements. These MUST conform to the shapes and markers as defined in the BPMN specification.

The specification may be extended by associating new markers or indicators with graphical elements e.g. to highlight a specific attribute of an activity or to create a new type of event.

Specification extensions can also include coloring an object or changing a line style of an object, providing that the change does not conflict with any BPMN defined line style.

Elements

Within the BPMN notation, there are four principal types of element namely actors, processes, connections and artefacts. The key concept is that of ‘process’ (since that is what the notation is concerned with); all other element types act on the process for a given purpose.

Specifically:

  • Actors (or actor roles) perform processes; this also includes sub-actors who may be identified within the process flow as e.g. departments of an organization,

  • Connections connect processes; this describes either the logical sequence in which processes occur or message passing between processes,

  • Artifacts either elaborate or annotate processes; elaboration being the expression of the data within or between processes and annotation simply providing further information.

BPMN Basic shapes

A key element of BPMN is the choice of shapes and icons used for the graphical elements identified in this specification. The intent is to create a standard visual language that all process modellers will recognize and understand.

The basic shapes of BPMN are very similar to flow diagrams, but instead of representing pure logical stages, they can also represent business-specific actions, like messaging other departments, and escalating issues.

These elements are used, linked together and enriched by markers, attributes and properties to create Process, Collaboration, Conversation and Choreography diagrams making Business Processes accessible and meaningful to organizations of all sizes and domains.

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