Question for all:

In the "real" world, to what extent does BPMN incorporate data flows?    From what I have actually seen (limited observations), data flows are not incorporated.   However, researching on line, I have read both that BPMN does and does not incorporate data flows.

Tony

K:

Thanks for the very informative response!  I checked out your suggested section within the BPMN 1.1 spec.  As you stated, inputs and outputs are optional with the BPMN.   From what I have seen and read, the same is true of other BPM techniques.

You stated that "Now it can be very frustrating when you ask SMEs and/or Consultants (mostly the latter)  "What are the inputs to this process?"  And you get blank stares!"   Boy is that a loaded comment!   

What I hear and read over and over again is that a process is defined by its inputs and outputs.  But, in conflict, I also see over and over again business process mapping diagraming techniques in which inputs and outputs are not handled, or whose importance is discounted.   My interpretation:  business process mapping techniques are for defining business processes, but they don't really define busness processes.   This makes my head hurt!

Even if one trys to incoporate inputs and outputs on BPMN they will be successful for other than than smallish efforts.   For larger-scale efforts, if a BA trys to put all the flow of control, inputs and outputs, and other notations on the same level, they result is going to be too complex to be of use.

Tony

Tony,

People are not applying the tool as its intended. In my reserved opinion the BPMN diagram is in part a contents page, the real data sit in the narrative which include input, process, output.  This is also analogous to use-case diagrams, which some purport to be the real use-case; the diagram is merely a context page and the real use-case information sits in the narrative.

If you really want to include all inputs and outputs in a diagram - spare a thought for th IDEF0 people who defined every input, output, contraints/controls and mechanisms. see http://www.census.gov/geo/www/standards/scdd/idef.html.

warm regards,

K