Visual change tracking for business process models

Abstract

Basically there are two options to display process change: (a) showing the corresponding process model before and after the change, or (b) including change tracking options within the process model. In this paper we want to find out how to support users best in grasping process changes. For this, first of all, a conceptualization of Change Tracking Graphs (CTG) is provided that is independent of any process meta model. The CTGs are then visualized in different ways following aesthetic criteria on the one side and mental map aspects on the other side. Further, different visual properties are applied. All different combinations of change representation for process models are evaluated based on an empirical study with 117 participants. This study provides a first stepstone towards a more user-centric application of process change. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.