Improving Process Robustness through Domain-Specific Model Transformations

Abstract

Many forward-thinking organizations have adopted domain-specific languages (DSL) as the preferred method for describing business processes. Using DSL-based descriptions helps in removing uncertainty from the semantics of process models. DSLs can evolve in a managed way and with proper versioning of individual processes the original intentions of process designers can be preserved over time. However in collaborative projects, business processes written in different DSLs need to be converted to a common denominator format to facilitate exchange. Due to its widespread adoption, BPMN is ideally placed to serve as the exchange language for complex, cross-domain collaborations. This paper presents an approach for automatic two-way synchronization of domain-specific process models with BPMN diagrams. This approach can be valuable when collaboration between different stakeholders with different expertise is required, as well as when the company wants to leverage its investments in a BPM suite across its process portfolio. In addition, this approach ensures that changes to processes executed through the BPMS are valid with respect to their domain representations, minimizing the potential for runtime problems that are difficult to understand.