On the de-facto Standard of Event-driven Process Chains: Reviewing EPC Implementations in Process Modelling Tools

Karhof Arne, Jannaber Sven, Riehle Dennis M, Thomas Oliver, Delfmann Patrick, Becker Jörg


Abstract
Nowadays, most process modelling tools implement popular modelling languages such as the Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) or the Event-driven Process Chain (EPC). However, in contrast to BPMN, no effort has yet been undertaken to standardize the EPC language, thus rendering EPCs as being merely a de-facto standard for business process modelling. Subsequently, this paper addresses this issue by laying ground for a successful EPC standardization. To achieve this task, several process modelling tools have been evaluated regarding their implementation of the EPC language with the objective to derive consensus about important language constructs. The evaluation reveals that there is a high degree of variety in the way tools implement EPCs. Especially syntax, semantic and pragmatic of the EPC language are not perceived homogenously and, in fact, commonly neglected. Hence, our research provides valuable implications for further EPC standardization by highlighting the state-of-the-art of the EPC from a software point of view.

Keywords
Event-driven Process Chain; EPC; Business Process Management; BPM; standardization; modelling tools; tool evaluation



Publication type
Research article in proceedings (conference)

Peer reviewed
Yes

Publication status
Published

Year
2016

Conference
Proceedings of the Modellierung 2016

Venue
Karlsruhe, Deutschland

Book title
Modellierung 2016, 2.–4. März 2016, Karlsruhe

Editor
Oberweis, Andreas; Reussner, Ralf

Pages range
77-92

Volume
254

Title of series
GI-Edition: Lecture Notes in Informatics

Publisher
Köllen Druck+Verlag GmbH

Place
Bonn, Germany

Language
English

ISBN
978-3-88579-648-0

Full text