On the Suitability of UML 2.0 Activity Diagrams for Business Process Modelling

Russell, N., van der Aalst, W.M.P., ter Hofstede, A.H.M. and Wohed, P.

UML is posited as the 'swiss army knife' for systems modelling and design activities. It embodies a number of modelling formalisms that have broad applicability in capturing both the static and dynamic aspects of software systems. One area of UML that has received particular attention is that of Activity Diagrams (ADs), which provide a high-level means of modelling dynamic system behaviour. In this paper we examine the suitability of UML 2.0 Activity Diagrams for business process modelling, using the Workflow Patterns as an evaluation framework. The Workflow Patterns are a collection of patterns developed for assessing control-flow, data and resource capabilities in the area of Process Aware Information Systems (PAIS). In doing so, we provide a comprehensive evaluation of the capabilities of UML 2.0 ADs, and their strengths and weaknesses when utilised for business process modelling.

Cite as: Russell, N., van der Aalst, W.M.P., ter Hofstede, A.H.M. and Wohed, P. (2006). On the Suitability of UML 2.0 Activity Diagrams for Business Process Modelling. In Proc. Third Asia-Pacific Conference on Conceptual Modelling (APCCM2006), Hobart, Australia. CRPIT, 53. Stumptner, M., Hartmann, S. and Kiyoki, Y., Eds. ACS. 95-104.

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