We present a framework for modeling and analysis of real-world business workflows. We present a formalized core subset of the business process modeling and notation (BPMN) and then proceed to extend this language with probabilistic nondeterministic branching and general-purpose reward annotations. We present an algorithm for the translation of such models into Markov decision processes (MDP) expressed in the syntax of the PRISM model checker. This enables precise quantitative analysis of business processes for the following properties: transient and steady-state probabilities, the timing, occurrence and ordering of events, reward-based properties, and best- and worst- case scenarios. We develop a simple example of medical workflow and demonstrate the utility of this analysis in accurate provisioning of drug stocks. Finally, we suggest a path to building upon these techniques to cover the entire BPMN language, allow for more complex annotations and ultimately to automatically synthesize workflows by composing predefined subprocesses, in order to achieve a configuration that is optimal for parameters of interest.
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March 2013
Research-Article
Precise Quantitative Analysis of Probabilistic Business Process Model and Notation Workflows Available to Purchase
Luke Herbert,
Luke Herbert
1
Doctoral Candidate
e-mail: [email protected]
e-mail: [email protected]
1Corresponding author.
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Robin Sharp
Robin Sharp
Associate Professor
e-mail: [email protected]
Informatics Department,
2300 Lyngby,
e-mail: [email protected]
Informatics Department,
Technical University of Denmark
,2300 Lyngby,
Denmark
Search for other works by this author on:
Luke Herbert
Doctoral Candidate
e-mail: [email protected]
e-mail: [email protected]
Robin Sharp
Associate Professor
e-mail: [email protected]
Informatics Department,
2300 Lyngby,
e-mail: [email protected]
Informatics Department,
Technical University of Denmark
,2300 Lyngby,
Denmark
1Corresponding author.
Contributed by the Computers and Information Division of ASME for publication in the JOURNAL OF COMPUTING AND INFORMATION SCIENCE IN ENGINEERING. Manuscript received October 10, 2012; final manuscript received December 14, 2012; published online March 14, 2013. Assoc. Editor: Bahram Ravani.
J. Comput. Inf. Sci. Eng. Mar 2013, 13(1): 011007 (9 pages)
Published Online: March 15, 2013
Article history
Received:
October 10, 2012
Revision Received:
December 14, 2012
Citation
Herbert, L., and Sharp, R. (March 15, 2013). "Precise Quantitative Analysis of Probabilistic Business Process Model and Notation Workflows." ASME. J. Comput. Inf. Sci. Eng. March 2013; 13(1): 011007. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4023362
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