Tangible media in process modeling - A controlled experiment

Abstract

In current practice, business processes modeling is done by trained method experts. Domain experts are interviewed to elicit their process information but typically not involved in actual modeling. We created a tangible toolkit for process modeling to be used with domain experts. We hypothesize that it results in more effective process elicitation. This paper assesses nine aspects related to "effective elicitation" in a controlled experiment using questionnaires and video analysis. We compare our approach to structured interviews in a repeated measurement design. Subjects were 17 student clerks from a trade school. We conclude that tangible modeling leads to more effective elicitation through activation of participants and validation of results. In particular, subjects take more time to think about their process and apply more corrections to it. They also report to get insights into process modeling. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.