A string comparison approach to process logic differences between business process models

Abstract

Analyzing process logic differences between company's process and best practice process can assist project team in discovering process improvement opportunities. Process logic comparison has been mentioned in some literature, but research in this area still lacks effectively and efficiently analytical approach. This research has applied string coding and comparison to analyze the process logic differences between business process models. There are three portions in this approach. First of all, all process paths embedded in each compared process model are identified and coded into alphabetical process path strings. Then, all process path pairs necessary for further processing difference analysis are decided. Finally, process path string comparison is applied to each process path pair to identify the differences in processing sequence and processing mode.