Process mining: Extending α-algorithm to mine duplicate tasks in process logs

Abstract

Process mining is a new technology which can distill workflow models from a set of real executions. However, the present research in process mining still meets many challenges. The problem of duplicate tasks is one of them, which refers to the situation that the same task can appear multiple times in one workflow model. The "α-algorithm" is proved to mine sound Structured Workflow nets without task duplication. In this paper, basing on the "α-algorithm", a new algorithm (the "α"- algorithm") is presented to deal with duplicate tasks and has been implemented in a research prototype. In eight scenarios, the "α*-algorithm" is evaluated experimentally to show its validity. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2007.