Skip to main content

Comparing the Control-Flow of EPC and Petri Net from the End-User Perspective

  • Conference paper
Book cover Business Process Management (BPM 2005)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNISA,volume 3649))

Included in the following conference series:

Abstract

This contribution describes the results of a laboratory experiment which compares the Event-driven Process Chain (EPC) and Petri net (C/E net) regarding their approaches to represent the control-flow of processes. The outcome of the experiment indicates that from end-user perspective the EPC approach of applying connectors is superior to the token game. However, the non-local semantic of the EPC OR-connector clearly had a negative impact on end-user comprehension. The experiment also illustrates that the perceived ease-of-use and the intention to use the EPC notation is higher than C/E net.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Batra, D., Davis, J.G.: Conceptual Data Modelling in Database Design: Similarities and Differences between Expert and Novice Designers. International Journal of Man- Machine Studies 37(1), 83–101 (1992)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Bock, D.B., Ryan, T.: Accuracy in modeling with extended entity relationship and object oriented data models. Journal of Database Management 4(4), 30–40 (1993)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Bodart, F., et al.: Should optional properties be used in conceptual modelling? A theory and three empirical tests. Information Systems Research 12(4), 384–405 (2001)

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  4. Boehm-Davis, D., Fregly, A.: Documentation of Concurrent Programs. Human Factors 27, 423–432 (1985)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Chen, R., Scheer, A.-W.: Modellierung von Prozeßketten mittels Petri-Netz-Theorie. In: Scheer, A.-W. (ed.) Veröffentlichungen des Instituts für Wirtschaftsinformatik, Saarbrücken (1994)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Davies, I., Green, P., Rosemann, M.: Exploring Proposed Ontological Issues of ARIS with Four Different Types of Modellers. In: Proc. Proceedings of the Australasian Conference on Information Systems (ACIS 2004), Hobart (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Davis, R.: Business process modelling with ARIS: a practical guide. Springer, London (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Green, P., Rosemann, M.: Integrated Process Modeling: An Ontological Evaluation. Information Systems 25(2), 73–87 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Green, P., Rosemann, M.: An Ontological Analysis of Integrated Process Modelling. In: Jarke, M., Oberweis, A. (eds.) CAiSE 1999. LNCS, vol. 1626, pp. 225–240. Springer, Heidelberg (1999)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  10. Green, P., Rosemann, M.: Perceived Ontological Weaknesses of Process Modeling Techniques: Further Evidence. In: Proc. Proceedings of the 10th European Conference on Information Systems (ECIS 2002), Gdansk, Poland, pp. 312–321 (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Jarvenpaa, S.L., Machesky, J.J.: Data Analysis and Learning: An Experimental Study of Data Modeling Tools. International Journal of Man-Machine Studies 31, 367–391 (1989)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Juhn, S.H., Naumann, J.D.: The effectiveness of data representation characteristics on user validation. In: Proc. Proceedings of the Sixth International Conference on Information Systems, pp. 212–226. Indianapolis, Indiana (1985)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Keller, G., Nüttgens, M., Scheer, A.-W.: Semantische Prozeßmodellierung auf der Grundlage "Ereignisgesteuerter Prozeßketten (EPK). In: Scheer, A.-W. (ed.) Veröffentlichungen des Instituts für Wirtschaftsinformatik, Saarbrücken (1992)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Keller, G., Teufel, T.: SAP R/3 Process Oriented Implementation: Iterative Process Prototyping. Addison-Wesley, Reading (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Kim, Y.-G., March, S.T.: Comparing data modeling formalisms. Communications of the ACM 38(6), 103–115 (1995)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Langner, P., Schneider, C., Wehler, J.: Petri Net Based Certification of Event-Driven Process Chains. In: Desel, J., Silva, M. (eds.) ICATPN 1998. LNCS, vol. 1420, p. 286. Springer, Heidelberg (1998)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  17. Moher, T., et al.: Comparing the Comprehensibility of Textual and Graphical Programs: The Case of Petri Nets. In: Proc. Empirical Studies of Programmers: Fifth Workshop, pp. 137–161 (1993)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Moody, D.L.: Comparative Evaluation of Large Data Model Representation Methods: The Analyst.s Perspective. In: Spaccapietra, S., March, S.T., Kambayashi, Y. (eds.) ER 2002. LNCS, vol. 2503, pp. 214–231. Springer, Heidelberg (2002)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  19. Mylopoulos, J.: Information modeling in the time of the revolution. Information Systems 23(3-4), 127–155 (1998)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Oberweis, A., et al.: INCOME/WF A Petri Net Based Approach to Workflow Management. In: Proc. Wirtschaftsinformatik 1997. Internationale Geschäftstätigkeit auf der Basis flexibler Organisationsstrukturen und leistungsfähiger Informationssysteme, pp. 557–580. Physica- Verlag, Heidelberg (1997)

    Google Scholar 

  21. Rodenhagen, J.: Darstellung ereignisgesteuerter Prozeßketten (EPK) mit Hilfe von Petrinetzen. Masterthesis. Universität Hamburg, Hamburg (1997)

    Google Scholar 

  22. Sarshar, K., Dominitzki, P., Loos, P.: Comparing the Control-Flow of EPC and Petri Net from the End-User Perspective - Statistical Results of a Laboratory Experiment. In: Working Papers of the Research Group Information Systems & Management Nr. 25 (www.isym.de), Mainz (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  23. Scheer, A.-W.: Business process engineering: reference models for industrial enterprises. Springer, Berlin (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  24. Scheer, A.-W., Nüttgens, M., Zimmermann, V.: Rahmenkonzept für ein integriertes Geschäftsprozeßmanagement. Wirtschaftsinformatik 37(5), 426–434 (1995)

    Google Scholar 

  25. Siau, K., Rossi, M.: Evaluation of Information Modeling Methods - A Review. In: Proc. Proceedings of the Thirty-First Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS), Kohala Coast, Hawaii, USA, pp. 314–322 (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  26. Sinha, A.P., Vessey, I.: An Empirical Investigation of Entity-based and Objectoriented Data Modeling: A Development Life Cycle Approach. In: Proc. International Conference on Information Systems, pp. 229–244. Charlotte, North Carolina (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  27. Swigger, K., Brazile, R.: Experimental Comparisons of Design/Documentation Formats for Expert Systems. International Journal of Man-Machine Studies 31(4), 47–60 (1989)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Swigger, K.M., Brazile, R.P.: An empirical study of the effects of design/ documentation formats on expert system modifiability. In: Proc. Empirical Studies of Programmers: Fourth Workshop, Norwood, NJ, pp. 210–226 (1991)

    Google Scholar 

  29. van der Aalst, W.M.P.: Formalization and verification of event-driven process chains. Information and Software Technology 41(10), 639–650 (1999)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. van der Aalst, W.M.P.: Modelling and analysing workflow using a Petri-net based approach. In: Proc. 2nd Workshop on Computer-Supported Cooperative Work, Petri nets and related formalisms, Zaragoza, Spain, pp. 31–50 (1994)

    Google Scholar 

  31. van der Aalst, W.M.P., Desel, J., Kindler, E.: On the semantics of EPCs: A vicious circle. In: Proc. EPK 2002 - Geschäftsprozessmanagement mit Ereignisgesteuerten Prozessketten, Proceedings des GI-Workshops und Arbeitskreistreffens, Trier, pp. 71–79 (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  32. Weber, R.: Are Attributes Entities? A Study of Database Designer’s Memory Structures. Information Systems Research 7(2), 137–162 (1996)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2005 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Sarshar, K., Loos, P. (2005). Comparing the Control-Flow of EPC and Petri Net from the End-User Perspective. In: van der Aalst, W.M.P., Benatallah, B., Casati, F., Curbera, F. (eds) Business Process Management. BPM 2005. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 3649. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/11538394_36

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/11538394_36

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-28238-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-31929-0

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics