BPMN Method and Style: A levels-based methodology for BPM process modeling and improvement using BPMN 2.0

by Bruce Silver

Creating business process models that can be shared effectively across the business - and between business and IT - demands more than a digest of BPMN shapes and symbols. It requires a step-by-step methodology for going from a blank page to a complete process diagram. It also requires consistent application of a modeling style, so that the modeler's meaning is clear from the diagram itself. Author Bruce Silver explains not only the meaning and proper usage of the entire BPMN 2.0 palette, but calls out the working subset that you really need to know. He also reveals the hidden assumptions of core concepts left unexplained in the spec, the key to BPMN's deeper meaning. The book addresses BPMN at three levels, with primary focus on the first two. Level 1, or descriptive BPMN, uses a basic working set of shapes and symbols to meet the needs of business users doing process mapping. Level 2, or analytical BPMN, is aimed at business analysts and architects. It takes advantage of BPMN's expressiveness for detailing event and exception handling, key to analyzing and improving process performance and quality. Level 3, or executable BPMN, is brand new in BPMN 2.0. Here the XML underneath the diagram shapes becomes an executable design can be deployed to a process engine to automate the process. The method and style detailed in the book aligns these three levels, facilitating business-IT collaboration throughout the process lifecycle. Inside the book you'll find discussions, illustrated with over 100 examples, The questions BPMN asks, and does not ask The meaning of basic concepts like starting and completing, sending and receiving, waiting and listening Subprocesses and hierarchical modeling style The five basic steps in creating Level 1 models Event and exception-handling patterns Branching and merging patterns Level 2 modeling method Elements of BPMN element usage and diagram composition

236 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Torben Rasmussen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the authors concise style. Always to the point and well-written, this book gives good guidance in using BPMN to represent real world business processes.
It goes a long way beyond what the specification has to offer and I recommend this book to anyone who is into process modelling.
The book is based on the upcoming BPMN 2.0, but typically exemplify the different between BPMN 1.1 and 2.0 where applicable.
The last part of the book. centered on the executable profile of BPMN 2.0, is very thin and I would expect an upcoming book from the author on that topic seperately.

[Keith Swenson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is probably the best book on BPMN you can get. The author's style is not to just explain the features of the language, but instead to outline strategies to get things done with the language. This is important because most of BPM 2.0 you will never use. A tiny part of the language will suffice for most tasks, and those are the important parts to learn and learn well. He outlines an approach to using the language which will help you complete projects. If you need to learn BPMN, this is your best bet.

[Phillip · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found it very useful, easy to read and comprehensive. I didn't need the implementers guide so I only skimmed through that, the text and examples were well done such that it answered all the questions that I had as I went along.

[Szymon · Rating 2 out of 5]

A little chaotic structure.

[Dennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great introduction to syntax and usage of BPMN 2.0.