Process mining approach to formal business process modelling and verification: a case study. (31st August 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ito, Sohei; Vymětal, Dominik; Šperka, Roman
• Is Part Of: Journal of modelling in management. Volume 16:Number 2(2021)
• Page Start: 602
• Page End: 622
• Publication Date: 2020-08-31
• Subjects: Modelling -- Computing -- Business process modelling -- Formal method -- Process mining -- Timed automaton; Industrial management -- Mathematical models -- Periodicals; Industrial management -- Computer simulation -- Periodicals; Business -- Mathematical models -- Periodicals; Business -- Computer simulation -- Periodicals; 658.4033
• DOI: 10.1108/JM2-03-2020-0077
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1746-5664

Abstract

Abstract : Purpose: The need for assuring correctness of business processes in enterprises is widely recognised in terms of business process re-engineering and improvement. Formal methods are a promising approach to this issue. The challenge in business process verification is to create a formal model that is well-aligned to the reality. Process mining is a well-known technique to discover a model of a process based on facts. However, no studies exist that apply it to formal verification. This study aims to propose a methodology for formal business process verification by means of process mining, and attempts to clarify the challenges and necessary technologies in this approach using a case study. Design/methodology/approach: A trading company simulation model is used as a case study. A workflow model is discovered from an event log produced by a simulation tool and manually complemented to a formal model. Correctness requirements of both domain-dependent and domain-independent types of the model are checked by means of model-checking. Findings: For business process verification with both domain-dependent and domain-independent correctness requirements, more advanced process mining techniques that discover data-related aspects of processes are desirable. The choice of a formal modelling language is also crucial. It depends on the correctness requirements and the characteristics of the business process. Originality/value: Formal verification of business processes starting with creating its formal model is quite new. Furthermore, domain-dependent and domain-independent correctness properties are considered in the same framework, which is also new. This study revealed necessary technologies for this approach with process mining.