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BPMN 2.0: Modelling processes visually and in a standardised way - theory and practice

Process modeling is a central element of any successful process optimization. It is essential to use a language that is understandable to all participants—from subject matter experts to IT specialists. BPMN 2.0 (Business Process Model and Notation) offers a standardized approach for graphically representing business processes. This article explains what BPMN 2.0 is, why it is useful, and how it can be applied in practice to effectively visualize processes.


What is BPMN 2.0?

BPMN 2.0 is an internationally standardized notation for the graphical representation of business processes. It enables clear and understandable mapping of processes, regardless of their complexity. BPMN 2.0 uses a set of standardized symbols and rules that can be understood by both business users and IT specialists.


The key elements of BPMN 2.0

Events: These mark the start, intermediate, and endpoints of a process. An example is the receipt of an order (start event) or the shipment of the product (end event).


Activities: These are tasks or steps performed in the process, such as processing an order or packaging a product.


Gateways: Decision points in the process where alternative paths are taken. They indicate whether an order is approved or rejected.


Flows: These connect events, activities, and gateways, showing the process flow.


Pools and Lanes: Pools represent organizations or departments, while lanes represent specific roles or teams. They help to clearly assign responsibilities within a process.



BPMN 2.0 serves as a universal language between business analysts and IT professionals. This improves understanding and ensures that business requirements can be seamlessly translated into technical implementations.


Why BPMN 2.0 is Important

BPMN 2.0 is an indispensable tool for process analysis, optimization, and automation of workflows. Thanks to its graphical representation, it creates transparency and facilitates a shared understanding of a process.


The advantages of BPMN 2.0

  • Standardized Representation: BPMN 2.0 allows processes to be represented uniformly, improving collaboration between teams.

  • Clarity and Transparency: Visualizing processes makes workflows easy to understand and analyze.

  • Optimization Potential: The graphical representation reveals inefficiencies in the process.

  • Automation: BPMN 2.0 forms the foundation for workflow systems that enable automated processes.


Anwendung von BPMN 2.0 in der Praxis

Successfully applying BPMN 2.0 requires clear and structured steps. Here is a practical guide on how to implement BPMN 2.0 within a company:

  • Define the Process Framework: First, the trigger point, or the process's starting point, and the endpoint should be defined. The trigger could be the receipt of a customer request, and the endpoint could be the complete processing of the request. This creates a clear framework and ensures that the process is fully mapped.

  • Identify Key Steps: A list of the central activities and events in the process is created. The focus should initially be on the most important steps, which can be further detailed if needed.

  • Use Gateways: At decision points, gateways are used to represent alternative process paths or decisions. An example would be a decision point where an order is reviewed and either approved or rejected.

  • Assign Responsibilities: Using pools and lanes helps structure responsibilities clearly. This enables a clear representation of processes and assigns specific tasks to certain roles.

  • Establish Connections: All activities, events, and gateways should be connected in the correct order to illustrate the process flow.

  • Validation and Optimization: After modeling the process, it is essential to review it in a workshop with all relevant stakeholders. This helps to identify weaknesses and optimize the process.


Example of a BPMN 2.0 Diagram: Order Process

To better illustrate BPMN 2.0, a simple order process is described here. This process spans from receiving an order to the delivery of the product.



This BPMN 2.0 diagram demonstrates how processes can be represented clearly and structured using events, activities, and gateways.


Outlook: In our next article on business processes, we will take a closer look at process maps.


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