Linking domain models and process models for reference model configuration

Abstract

Reference process models capture common practices in a given domain and variations thereof. Such models are intended to be configured in a specific setting, leading to individualized process models. Although the advantages of reference process models are widely accepted, their configuration still requires a high degree of modeling expertise. Thus users not only need to be domain experts, but also need to master the notation in which the reference process model is captured. In this paper we propose a framework for reference process modeling wherein the domain variability is represented separately from the actual process model. Domain variability is captured as a questionnaire that reflects the decisions that need to be made during configuration and their interrelationships. This questionnaire allows subject matter experts to configure the process model without requiring them to understand the process modeling notation. The approach guarantees that the resulting process models are correct according to certain constraints. To demonstrate the applicability of the proposal, we have implemented a questionnaire toolset that guides users through the configuration of reference process models captured in two different notations. © 2008 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.