BPMN 2.0 - an introduction to the Level 1 Palette

BPMN 2.0
Introduction to the Level 1 Palette
by Declan Chellar

Scope of this slide deck
• In: an introduction to the shapes of the Level 1 Palette of BPMN 2.0
• In: textual explanations of the purpose of each shape
• In: stand-alone visual examples of the use of each shape
• Out: an example start-to-finish process model

What is BPMN?
• “Business Process Model and Notation”
• A graphical technique for modelling business processes
• Based on flowcharting
• An expressive language with vocabulary, grammar and syntax
• Managed by the Object Management Group

Why use BPMN?
• It is an international standard, the lingua franca of process modelling
• Easily understood by non-technical business people
• Caters well for event-based process modelling
• Caters well for exception scenarios
• Caters well for hierarchical modelling

Why use the Level 1 Palette?
Any of the following is a good reason to stick to Level 1:
• You are not familiar with the shapes of the Level 2 Palette
• You are modelling an initial overview of a process
• You want a simple (non-executable) model of a process
• You don’t need to model event-triggered behaviour

First some symbols
• Instructions appear with this symbol: 
• Handy tips appear with this symbol: 
• Warnings appear with this symbol: 
• Quotes from the BPMN 2.0 Specification appear with this symbol: 
(along with a reference to the relevant section in the specification)


This is a Pool. It represents an
entire Process from start to finish.

[ProcessName]

The process name
goes here.

[ProcessName]

Process names are always verb
phrases and should reveal the
intent of the process.

[ProcessName]

These are all good process names
because the verbs directly
address the core activity and
intent of the process.

Replace
Customer Card

Request
Vacation

Add New
Account

Switch
Customer
Account

[ProcessName]

Noun phrases do not make good
process names because processes
are about activity and a phrase
that lacks a verb obscures the
core activity of the process.

Customer Card
Replacement

Vacation
Request

New Account

Switch
Customer
Account

[ProcessName]

Within a Pool, we must
have at least one Lane. A
Lane represents the
Performer of any tasks
that sit within that Lane.

[ProcessName]
[PerformerName][PerformerName]

The Performer name
goes here.

The Performer name
goes here.

[ProcessName]

Performer names are always
noun phrases and can
represent individual roles,
teams, departments or can
represent a desire for
Activities to be automated.

[ProcessName]

Personnel
Manager

Claims
Adjuster

System
(for Activities to
be automated)

Accounts
Department

These are all good
Performer names.

[ProcessName]

Those who perform activities
within the same process must
be modelled as Lanes within
the same process Pool.

[Name][ProcessName]

You can also have Pools outside
the process, to indicate entities or
other processes that interact with
the process you are modelling.

[Name][ProcessName]

If we do not model what happens
inside them, they are known as
Black Box Pools.

[Name][ProcessName]

We do not model what happens
inside a Black Box Pool because:
• we do not know
• or we do not care
• or we cannot control it

[Name][ProcessName]

However, if we do know what goes
on inside the other Pool and we can
control it and we do care, then we
model it as another White Box Pool.

[Name][ProcessName]
Message X
Received
Request
Information Y
Send Message Z
Receive
Information Y
Message X
Request for
Information Y
Information Y
Message Z

We show the interactions
between Pools with
Message Flows.

[Name][ProcessName]
Message X
Received
Request
Information Y
Send Message Z
Receive
Information Y
Message X
Request for
Information Y
Information Y
Message Z

More on Message
Flows later.

[Name][ProcessName]
Message X
Received
Request
Information Y
Send Message Z
Receive
Information Y
Message X
Request for
Information Y
Information Y
Message Z

The interacting Pools are
called Participants.

Don’t confuse the
terms Participant and
Performer.

[Name][ProcessName]
Message X
Received
Request
Information Y
Send Message Z
Receive
Information Y
Message X
Request for
Information Y
Information Y
Message Z

A model that shows the
interactions between
participating Pools is called a
Collaboration.

Events

An Event is something that “happens” during the
course of a Process… BPMN has restricted the use of
Events to include only those types of Events that will
affect the sequence or timing of Activities of a Process.
(section 8.3.5)

[ProcessName][Name]

Every process has
at least one Event
which starts it.

[ProcessName][Name]

A Start Event is
represented by a circle
with a single, thin border.

[ProcessName][Name]
[Label]

Label the Start Event to make
process trigger explicit.

[ProcessName][Name]
[Label]

“Start” is not a suitable label for a Start
Event, as it adds no information about
what causes the process to start.

[ProcessName][Name]
[Label]

These are all good
Start Event labels.

Customer Order
Received

15.00 daily

Need for
warehouse
maintenance
identified


The three basic types
of Start Event in
BPMN 2.0 are:


of Start Event in
BPMN 2.0 are:

“None”: the process
is started manually.


of Start Event in
BPMN 2.0 are:


“Message”: the
process starts when a
Message is received
from another Pool.


of Start Event in
BPMN 2.0 are:


“Message”: the
Message is received
from another Pool.

A Message is not necessarily a letter
or an email. It could be one person
talking to another. A message
represents nothing more than an
interaction between two Pools.


of Start Event in
BPMN 2.0 are:


“Message”: the
Message is received
from another Pool.

“Timer”: the process
starts at a particular
time, or date, or
frequency, etc.

[ProcessName][Name]

Processes must have at least
one End Event, which
indicates not just that the
process ends, but also the end
state of the process.

[ProcessName][Name]

An End Event is
represented by a circle
with a single, thick border.

[ProcessName][Name]
[Label]

End Events should be labelled to
provide information about what
the outcome of the process is.

[ProcessName][Name]
[Label]

“End” is not a suitable label for
an End Event, as it adds no
information about the end state
of the process.

[ProcessName][Name]
[Label]

These are all good
End Event labels.

Customer Order
Fulfilled

Vacation Request
Rejected

Account
Switched

Card Replaced

[ProcessName][Name]
[Label]

All possible Start Events and all
possible End Events must be
shown in the process Pool at the
top level of your model.

[ProcessName][Name]
[Label]

This allows you to navigate
the entire process at the
highest level without needing
to know the details.


of End Event in BPMN
2.0 are:


2.0 are:

throws no signal at
the end.


2.0 are:

throws no signal at
the end.

“Message”: the
process throws a
Message signal to
another Pool.


2.0 are:

throws no signal at
the end.

“Message”: the
process throws a
Message signal to
another Pool.

“Terminate”: all
active paths at the
same process level
are aborted.

Activities

An Activity is work that is performed
within a Business Process.
(section 10.2)


The performance of work
can only be represented
by Activity shapes.


Atomic activities cannot be
broken down into further
steps and are represented
by the Task shape.


The Sub Process shape is
used for Activities that are
broken down into further
Tasks or Sub Processes.


More on Sub
Processes shortly.

[Name][ProcessName]

Tasks must sit within the
Lane that performs the
work.

[Name][ProcessName]

You don’t have to indicate the
Task type but it does add clarity.


User (person symbol):
In the Level 1 palette, the User
Task type represents any atomic
activity carried out by a human.


Service (gears symbol):
In the Level 1 palette, the
Service Task type represents any
automated, atomic activity.

Sequence Flows

A Sequence Flow is used to show the
order of Flow Elements in a Process.
(section 8.3.13)

[ProcessName][Name]

To show the order of flow
between shapes, we use the
Sequence Flow shape.

[ProcessName][Name]

To show sequence flow, we
use the Sequence Flow shape.

There are different types of arrow-
headed shapes in BPMN, so get
used to calling this one by its
correct name: Sequence Flow

[ProcessName][Name]

A Sequence Flow can
have only one source
and one target.

[ProcessName][Name]

Sequence Flows must always
stay within a Pool.

[ProcessName][Name]

Sequence flows may never
cross a pool boundary.

Message Flows

A Message Flow is used to show
the flow of Messages between
two Participants that are prepared
to send and receive them.
(section 9.3)

[Name][ProcessName]
Message X
Received
Message X

Catching Message Events
(white envelope) must
have an incoming Message
Flow from the boundary
of another Pool.

[Name][ProcessName]
Message X
Received
Send Message Y
Message X Message Y

Throwing Message Events
(black envelope) must
have an outgoing Message
Flow to the boundary of
another Pool.

[Name][ProcessName]
Message X
Received
Send Message Y
Message X Message Y

Message Flows may only
pass between Pools.

[ProcessName][Name]
Message X

Message Flows may never
pass within a Pool.

[Name][ProcessName]
Message X
Received
Request
Information Y
Send Message Z
Receive
Information Y
Message X
Request for
Information Y
Information Y
Message Z

What shapes can
send Messages?

Task

Message
Throwing Event

Black Box Pool
boundary

Black Box Pool
boundary

[Name][ProcessName]
Message X
Received
Request
Information Y
Send Message Z
Receive
Information Y
Message X
Request for
Information Y
Information Y
Message Z

What shapes can
receive Messages?

Task

Message
Catching Event

Black Box Pool
boundary

Black Box Pool
boundary

Sub Processes

A Sub-Process is an Activity whose internal details
have been modeled using Activities, Gateways,
Events, and Sequence Flows. A Sub-Process is a
graphical object within a Process, but it also can be
“opened up” to show a lower-level Process.
(section 8.3.13)


Sub Processes allow you to
model the details of a Process
hierarchically.


Sub Processes also allow you to
group activities logically for the
sake of tidiness.


The details of a collapsed
Sub Process are shown on
another (child) canvas.

[Name][ProcessName]
B
Outcome
Outcome B
A
Outcome A

Collapsed Sub Processes must sit within the
Lane where the first task of that Sub Process
is performed, even though subsequent
Tasks may be performed in other Lanes.

[Name][ProcessName]

The details of an expanded Sub
Process are shown at the same
level as the Sub Process shape
itself.


A Sub Process inherits its Pool from
the parent, so you are only
required to show the Pool at the
top level of your model.

[PerformerName]

However, you should
show any relevant Lanes
at the Sub Process level.

[PerformerName]

Sub Processes must have one
un-labelled Start Event of the
type “None”.


This is because the trigger for
the Sub Process is already
known: it is the previous
Activity at the parent level.
[PerformerName]

Sub Processes must have one
un-labelled Start Event of the
type “None”.

[PerformerName]

Sub Processes must at least
one End Event.

[PerformerName]

Sub Processes must at least
one End Event.

There is no need to label
a Sub Process End Event
if there is only one.

[PerformerName]
Determine
Outcome
Outcome B
Outcome
B
Outcome A
A

You must label Sub Process
End Events if there are
more than one.

Gateways

Gateways are used to control how
Sequence Flows interact as they
converge and diverge within a Process.
(section 8.3.13)

[ProcessName][Name]

We use a Gateway shape
to navigate the diagram
when optional or multiple
paths are possible.

[ProcessName][Name]

No processing takes place
within a Gateway, i.e., it
contains no logic. It is nothing
more than a visual navigation
device for your diagram.

[ProcessName][Name]

Because no processing takes place
within a Gateway, be careful not
to call them ‘Decision Points’.

[ProcessName][Name]
Determine Credit
Limit
Credit Limit

Any Decision logic should be contained
within a previous Activity and the
Gateway should be labelled accordingly.

[ProcessName][Name]
Determine Credit
Limit
Credit Limit

Any logic should be contained within
a previous Activity and the Gateway
should be labelled accordingly.

Remember we said that the
performance of work is represented
only by Activity shapes.

[ProcessName][Name]

A plain, Exclusive Gateway like this
means that the process follows only
one of the subsequent Gates, (i.e.,
the one where the outcome
labelled on the Gate is true).

[ProcessName][Name]

An Exclusive Gateway can
also be indicated like this.

[ProcessName][Name]

The Sequence Flows that
follow a Gateway are
called Gates.

[ProcessName][Name]
Determine Credit
Limit
Credit Limit
Sufficient
Insufficient

Label the Gates coming out
of the Gateway to cover all
allowed outcomes.

[Name][ProcessName]
B
Outcome
Outcome B
A
Outcome A

When a Sub Process has more than
one End Event, you must use an
Exclusive Gateway at the parent
level to interrogate the outcome.

[Name][ProcessName]

Use Parallel Gateways to
model paths that the
process follows in parallel.

[Name][ProcessName]

With a Splitting Parallel Gateway,
all paths following the Gateway
are activated as soon as the
process reaches the Gateway.

[Name][ProcessName]

With a Joining Parallel Gateway, the
process does not continue until all
incoming paths are complete.

[ProcessName][Name]

Use a Data Object to represent
transient data that is passed within a
process but which does not need to
exist outside the process.

[ProcessName][Name]

Use a Data Store to represent
data that persists beyond the
scope of the process.

[ProcessName][Name]

Use a Data Store to represent
data that persists beyond the
scope of the process.

A Data Store is not necessarily
a database! It is simply a
logical representation of
persisted data.

[ProcessName][Name]

A sheet of paper could be
used as a Data Object but it
is discarded at some point
before the process ends.

A sheet of paper could be
used as a Data Store but it is
kept to be used after the
process ends.

[ProcessName][Name]

We label both Data Objects
and Data Stores to indicate
the business concept of the
data but not to indicate the
name of a database.
Customer Phone Number
Customer Account Details

[ProcessName][Name]

Data Objects and Data Stores must
be connected to Activity shapes
with Data Associations to show the
flow of data from and to Activities.

[ProcessName][Name]
Annotation
Annotation
Annotation

Annotations are a useful
way to add clarity to a
process model.

[ProcessName][Name]
Annotation
Annotation
Annotation

But do not use an Annotation
where clarity can be provided by an
Event, Activity Gateway, Message
Flow, Data Object or Data Store.

Off-page Connectors

Generally used for printing, this object will
show where a Sequence Flow leaves one
page and then restarts on the next page.
(table 7.2)

A
A

You can use an Intermediate Link
Event as an off-page connector
when you need to split your
diagram across two canvasses.

A
A

As the name implies, the Intermediate Event
indicates where something happens (an Event)
somewhere between the start and end of a
Process. It will affect the flow of the Process, but
will not start or (directly) terminate the Process.
(section 10.4.4)

A
A

An Intermediate Event is
represented by a circle with a
double, thin border.

An Intermediate Event is
represented by a circle with a
double, thin border.

A
A

White for
“catching”.

Black for
“throwing”.

A
A

The Intermediate Link Event is the
only type of Intermediate Event in
the Level 1 Palette.

A
A

Use the Intermediate Link Event
sparingly. Instead, try to use Sub
Processes to keep each diagram of
your model tidily on a single canvas.

This has been a basic introduction to the Level 1 Palette of BPMN 2.0
ESSENTIAL REFERENCE WORKS:
“BPMN Method and Style” by Bruce Silver
“Process and Decision Modelling in BPMN/DMN” by Tom DeBevoise and James Taylor
(both books available in paperback and for Kindle)
The BPMN Specification:
http://www.omg.org/spec/BPMN/2.0/

www.chellar.com/AnalysisFu/
LinkedIn: es.linkedin.com/in/declanchellar/
Twitter: @AnalysisFu
Care to discuss further?

BPMN 2.0 - an introduction to the Level 1 Palette

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