Process Modelling - Best Practice Flashcards
When would an undirected Association (dotted line) be used?
Attaching a data object with an undirected Association to a sequence flow indicates handover of information between the activities involved.
i.e., use a dotted line to attach ‘Customer file’ to the line between two tasks shows that the ‘Customer file’ has passed from one task to the next.
When would a uni-directional Associated (dotted line with an arrow) be used?
When indicating ifnromation flow e.g. a data object can be read at the start of an activity or written upon completion.
When would a bi-directional Association (dotted line with arrows on each end) be used?
When indicating that the data object is being modified i.e., both read and written during the execution of n activity.
What does a Data Object (blank page icon) represent?
Information flowing through the process such as business documents, emails, or letters. May be the input or output of a task.
What does a Data Store (database looking thing) represent?
Where the process can read or write data e.g., database or filing cabinet. It exists beyond the lifetime of the process instance.
In general, what are boundary interrupting and non-interrupting events?
- Boundary interrupting events are those which stop the task they are attached to, and initiative an exception flow, upon being triggered.
- Boundary non-interrupting events are those which will continue to perform the task they are attached to, but start a parallel exception flow, upon being triggered.
Example: there could be a timer event for 5 days attached to a task. If its a boundary interrupting event, then at 5 days the task will stop and an exception flow will occur (e.g., “reply not received; cancel process”). If its a boundary non-interrupting event, the task will continue but a parallel flow will be initiative (e.g., “reply not received; send reminder”).
What is a conditional event (looks like a page with lines)?
An event that is triggered once all conditions have been met e.g., “3 valid forms of identification received”. This can be used to stop the process continuing until all requirements are met, or used to trigger exception flows (e.g., “bank details not found”).
When should you use intermediate signal events (triangles)?
For general broadcast communication within and across process levels, process pools, and between business process diagrams - they are like a flare that is shot in the sky for someone to notice and then react.
When should Compensation events be used?
When we can’t undo a step in a process, but we can perform another action designed to neutralise the effect of the former step.
When should an “Additional Participant” be used?
To show where individuals or roles who are NOT the main ‘doer’ of the task are involved in its completion.
When can you use an IT system on a swimlane as the ‘doer’ of activities?
Where all the activities/tasks are automated by that system, but if any tasks in that swimlane are performed by a user, you MUST NOT use the IT system.
