Learning business process models: A case study

Abstract

Learning how to improve business processes is an evolutionary process that must be managed as other business processes (BPs) are managed in modern organizations. The proposed model - the learning process model (LPM) - suggests a closed-loop-model approach applied to a generic process model (GPM), which is a formal state-based and goal-based approach to process modeling. LPM strives to establish a learning process by (1) identifying goal and soft-goal states of the initial process model, (2) identifying exceptional states and incomplete state definitions at runtime, and (3) adapting automatically the process model according to the discovered states. Modifications provided by the learning process may be sufficient or may need to be complemented by non-automatic changes, when unacceptable business situations arise. The learning process also aims to adapt the current process model to possible technology, specific domain (e.g., clinical procedures at specific institutions), environmental requirements (e.g., regulations and policies), and process innovations. We demonstrate the application of LPM to a vaccination process. © 2008 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.