Comparing ConDec to CMMN: Towards a common language for flexible processes

Abstract

Flexible processes emerged to provide flexibility to business process execution. A flexible process is not static and can have several different executions, that is influenced by the current situation. In this context, the decision-making is placed in the hands of any knowledge worker during the execution, who decides which tasks and in which order they will be executed. Two approaches for flexible processes are discussed in this paper: case management and declarative processes. In particular we use the CMMN standard and the ConDec language for the two approaches, respectively. We compare them based on scope, model representation, formal semantics, and limitations. Our goal is to present commonalities and differences between the languages in order to identify potential extensions to make them more complete to attain more flexible process examples.