Business Process Definition Metamodel
Encyclopedia
The Business Process Definition Metamodel (BPDM) is a
standard definition of concepts used to express business process
models (a metamodel), adopted by the OMG
(Object Management Group). Metamodels define concepts,
relationships, and semantics for exchange of user models between
different modeling tools. The exchange format is defined by XSD
(XML Schema) and XMI (XML for Metadata Interchange), a specification
for transformation of OMG metamodels to XML. Pursuant to the OMG's
policies, the metamodel is the result of an open process involving
submissions by member organizations, following a
Request for Proposal (RFP)
issued in 2003. BPDM was adopted in initial form in July 2007, and
finalized in July 2008.
BPDM provides abstract concepts as the basis for consistent
interpretation of specialized concepts used by business process
modelers. For example, the ordering of many of the graphical elements in
a BPMN (Business Process Modeling Notation) diagram is depicted by
arrows between those elements, but the specific elements can have a
variety of characteristics. For example, all BPMN events have some
common characteristics, and a variety of specific events are designated
by the type of circle and the icon in the circle. The abstract BPDM
concepts ensure implementers of different modeling tools will associate
the same characteristics and semantics with the modeling elements to
ensure models are interpreted the same way when moved to a different
tool. Users of the modeling tools do not need to be concerned with the
abstractions-they only see the specialized elements.
BPDM extends business process modeling beyond the elements defined by
BPMN and BPEL to include interactions between otherwise-independent
business processes executing in different business units or enterprises
(choreography). A choreography can be specified independently of its
participants, and used as a requirement for the specification of the
orchestration implemented by a participant. BPDM provides for the
binding of orchestration to choreography to ensure compatibility. Many
current business process models focus on specification of executable
business processes that execute within an enterprise (orchestration).
The BPDM specification addresses the objectives of the OMG
RFP
on which it is based:
The RFP seeks to "improve communication between modelers, including
between business and software modelers, provide flexible selection of
tools and execution environments, and promote the development of more
specialized tools for the analysis and design of processes."
For exchange of business process models, BPDM is an alternative to the
existing process interchange format XPDL
(XML Process Definition
Language) from the WfMC
(Workflow
Management Coalition). The two specifications are similar in that they
can be used by process design tools to exchange business process
definitions. They are different in that BPDM provides a specification
of semantics integrated in a metamodel, and it includes additional
modeling capabilities such as choreography, discussed above. In
addition, XPDL has many implementations, though only some support for
XPDL 2.x, needed for interchanging BPMN. BPDM implementations are in
preparation, including support for BPMN, and translation to XPDL.
standard definition of concepts used to express business process
Business process
A business process or business method is a collection of related, structured activities or tasks that produce a specific service or product for a particular customer or customers...
models (a metamodel), adopted by the OMG
Object Management Group
Object Management Group is a consortium, originally aimed at setting standards for distributed object-oriented systems, and is now focused on modeling and model-based standards.- Overview :...
(Object Management Group). Metamodels define concepts,
relationships, and semantics for exchange of user models between
different modeling tools. The exchange format is defined by XSD
(XML Schema) and XMI (XML for Metadata Interchange), a specification
for transformation of OMG metamodels to XML. Pursuant to the OMG's
policies, the metamodel is the result of an open process involving
submissions by member organizations, following a
Request for Proposal (RFP)
issued in 2003. BPDM was adopted in initial form in July 2007, and
finalized in July 2008.
BPDM provides abstract concepts as the basis for consistent
interpretation of specialized concepts used by business process
modelers. For example, the ordering of many of the graphical elements in
a BPMN (Business Process Modeling Notation) diagram is depicted by
arrows between those elements, but the specific elements can have a
variety of characteristics. For example, all BPMN events have some
common characteristics, and a variety of specific events are designated
by the type of circle and the icon in the circle. The abstract BPDM
concepts ensure implementers of different modeling tools will associate
the same characteristics and semantics with the modeling elements to
ensure models are interpreted the same way when moved to a different
tool. Users of the modeling tools do not need to be concerned with the
abstractions-they only see the specialized elements.
BPDM extends business process modeling beyond the elements defined by
BPMN and BPEL to include interactions between otherwise-independent
business processes executing in different business units or enterprises
(choreography). A choreography can be specified independently of its
participants, and used as a requirement for the specification of the
orchestration implemented by a participant. BPDM provides for the
binding of orchestration to choreography to ensure compatibility. Many
current business process models focus on specification of executable
business processes that execute within an enterprise (orchestration).
The BPDM specification addresses the objectives of the OMG
RFP
on which it is based:
- BPDM "will define a set of abstract business process definition elements for specification of executable business processes that execute within an enterprise, and may collaborate between otherwise-independent business processes executing in different business units or enterprises."
- common metamodel to unify the diverse business process definition notations that exist in the industry containing semantics compatible with leading business process modeling notations.
- A metamodel that complements existing UMLUnified Modeling LanguageUnified Modeling Language is a standardized general-purpose modeling language in the field of object-oriented software engineering. The standard is managed, and was created, by the Object Management Group...
metamodels so that business processes specifications can be part of complete system specifications to assure consistency and completenes. - The ability to integrate process models for workflow management processes, automated business processes, and collaborations between business units.
- Support for the specification of web services choreography, describing the collaboration between participating entities and the ability to reconcile the choreography with supporting internal business processes.
- The ability to exchange business process specifications between modeling tools, and between tools and execution environments using XMI.
The RFP seeks to "improve communication between modelers, including
between business and software modelers, provide flexible selection of
tools and execution environments, and promote the development of more
specialized tools for the analysis and design of processes."
For exchange of business process models, BPDM is an alternative to the
existing process interchange format XPDL
XPDL
The XML Process Definition Language is a format standardized by the Workflow Management Coalition to interchange business process definitions between different workflow products, i.e...
(XML Process Definition
Language) from the WfMC
Workflow Management Coalition
Workflow Management Coalition is a consortium, formed to define standards for the interoperability of workflow management systems. It was founded in May 1993 as an offshoot of the Black Forest Group with original members including IBM, Hewlett-Packard, Fujitsu, ICL, Staffware and approximately 300...
(Workflow
Management Coalition). The two specifications are similar in that they
can be used by process design tools to exchange business process
Business process
A business process or business method is a collection of related, structured activities or tasks that produce a specific service or product for a particular customer or customers...
definitions. They are different in that BPDM provides a specification
of semantics integrated in a metamodel, and it includes additional
modeling capabilities such as choreography, discussed above. In
addition, XPDL has many implementations, though only some support for
XPDL 2.x, needed for interchanging BPMN. BPDM implementations are in
preparation, including support for BPMN, and translation to XPDL.
External links
- BPDM Tutorial
- Design Rationale (see Section 4, also Sections 7.6 and 7.9).
- Other introductory presentations
- [ftp://ftp.omg.org/pub/docs/dtc/08-05-11/pages/188c21b53f42002f.htm Web pages showing metamodels] in UML notation
- Specification documents, in two parts:
- Common Infrastructure (see Section 4.4.1.1 for an overview of metamodeling).
- Process Definition.