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Position: BPMN is incompatible
with ACM
Keith D Swenson
VP at Fujitsu America, Inc.
Chairman of Workflow Management Coalition


                                            © Copyright 2011 Fujitsu
Proposition


       Any work support system
     that depends upon processes
         designed with BPMN
      (or BPMN-like languages)
         cannot be considered
           an ACM system.

                              © Copyright 2011 Fujitsu
What is BPMN-like

 This is not a critique of BPMN in particular.
 Here, I use BPMN to refer to any flowchart like, two-
  dimensional process diagram with boxes and lines.




                                                      © Copyright 2011 Fujitsu
Change: Lifecycle



       BPM          ACM
       & PCM




                     © Copyright 2011 Fujitsu
-- 1 --
  Drawing a diagram requires a kind of
abstract thinking about the process that a
  business user is not comfortable with.




                                      © Copyright 2011 Fujitsu
-- 2 --
Drawing an executable diagram actually
  involves some programmer-like skills




                                   © Copyright 2011 Fujitsu
-- 3 --
   Modifying someone else’s diagram is
          particularly difficult:

the assumptions that went into drawing the
  diagram are not visible in the diagram


 The BPMN-like diagram is the output of
planning, and supporting concepts are lost

                                      © Copyright 2011 Fujitsu
© Copyright 2011 Fujitsu
The Nescafè Process




                      (example from: M zur Muehlen)

                                            © Copyright 2011 Fujitsu
Web Service   Web Service   Web Service
    A             B             C




                                          © Copyright 2011 Fujitsu
Can a Step be Inserted?

                Web Service
                    X




       Web Service       Web Service   Web Service
           A                 B             C




                                                     © Copyright 2011 Fujitsu
Can Steps be Rearranged?




      Web Service   Web Service   Web Service
          A             B             C




                                                © Copyright 2011 Fujitsu
© Copyright 2011 Fujitsu
Criterion 1:
 Ability to design a basic process quickly with
 very little investment by the user is far more
important than the ability to define a precise
  process which uses more time an attention
              from the business user.




                                          © Copyright 2011 Fujitsu
Criterion 2:
Process design must not require a skill beyond
         what business users possess




                                         © Copyright 2011 Fujitsu
Criterion 3:
For a process definition to be modified by
 business users there must be no hidden
               assumptions.




                                       © Copyright 2011 Fujitsu
For Routine Work           For Knowledge Work




Created ahead of time      Created when needed,
by specialist crafted to   by the person doing the work.
automatically respond      Manually adjusted for
to many situations.        changing situations.



                                                © Copyright 2011 Fujitsu
The simple checklist



    Boil the water
    Put coffee in the cup
    Put boiling water in the cup




                                    © Copyright 2011 Fujitsu
The simple checklist



    Boil the water
    Put coffee in the cup
    Put sugar in the cup
    Put boiling water in the cup




                                    © Copyright 2011 Fujitsu
Why Not BOTH?


 If a system has BPMN, then 5% will use it
95% will be unable to modify those diagram
   The system will no longer be adaptive



                                       © Copyright 2011 Fujitsu
Conclusion

 For all participants to be able to adapt processes to their
  need, all processes need to be in low-tech form


 You must force all users into a least-common-denominator
  situation, using the low-tech form


 The mere presence of a flow-chart format will disrupt the ability
  to be adaptive.




                                                        © Copyright 2011 Fujitsu
 What are the open questions that need to be answered?




                                                  © Copyright 2011 Fujitsu

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Position paperpresentation

  • 1. Position: BPMN is incompatible with ACM Keith D Swenson VP at Fujitsu America, Inc. Chairman of Workflow Management Coalition © Copyright 2011 Fujitsu
  • 2. Proposition Any work support system that depends upon processes designed with BPMN (or BPMN-like languages) cannot be considered an ACM system. © Copyright 2011 Fujitsu
  • 3. What is BPMN-like  This is not a critique of BPMN in particular.  Here, I use BPMN to refer to any flowchart like, two- dimensional process diagram with boxes and lines. © Copyright 2011 Fujitsu
  • 4. Change: Lifecycle BPM ACM & PCM © Copyright 2011 Fujitsu
  • 5. -- 1 -- Drawing a diagram requires a kind of abstract thinking about the process that a business user is not comfortable with. © Copyright 2011 Fujitsu
  • 6. -- 2 -- Drawing an executable diagram actually involves some programmer-like skills © Copyright 2011 Fujitsu
  • 7. -- 3 -- Modifying someone else’s diagram is particularly difficult: the assumptions that went into drawing the diagram are not visible in the diagram The BPMN-like diagram is the output of planning, and supporting concepts are lost © Copyright 2011 Fujitsu
  • 9. The Nescafè Process (example from: M zur Muehlen) © Copyright 2011 Fujitsu
  • 10. Web Service Web Service Web Service A B C © Copyright 2011 Fujitsu
  • 11. Can a Step be Inserted? Web Service X Web Service Web Service Web Service A B C © Copyright 2011 Fujitsu
  • 12. Can Steps be Rearranged? Web Service Web Service Web Service A B C © Copyright 2011 Fujitsu
  • 13. © Copyright 2011 Fujitsu
  • 14. Criterion 1: Ability to design a basic process quickly with very little investment by the user is far more important than the ability to define a precise process which uses more time an attention from the business user. © Copyright 2011 Fujitsu
  • 15. Criterion 2: Process design must not require a skill beyond what business users possess © Copyright 2011 Fujitsu
  • 16. Criterion 3: For a process definition to be modified by business users there must be no hidden assumptions. © Copyright 2011 Fujitsu
  • 17. For Routine Work For Knowledge Work Created ahead of time Created when needed, by specialist crafted to by the person doing the work. automatically respond Manually adjusted for to many situations. changing situations. © Copyright 2011 Fujitsu
  • 18. The simple checklist  Boil the water  Put coffee in the cup  Put boiling water in the cup © Copyright 2011 Fujitsu
  • 19. The simple checklist  Boil the water  Put coffee in the cup  Put sugar in the cup  Put boiling water in the cup © Copyright 2011 Fujitsu
  • 20. Why Not BOTH? If a system has BPMN, then 5% will use it 95% will be unable to modify those diagram The system will no longer be adaptive © Copyright 2011 Fujitsu
  • 21. Conclusion  For all participants to be able to adapt processes to their need, all processes need to be in low-tech form  You must force all users into a least-common-denominator situation, using the low-tech form  The mere presence of a flow-chart format will disrupt the ability to be adaptive. © Copyright 2011 Fujitsu
  • 22.  What are the open questions that need to be answered? © Copyright 2011 Fujitsu