Declarative Process Element Variant Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Business Process Management Suites (BPMS) are limited in dynamically binding process element variants across all dimensions of an enterprise, such as processes, events, locations, organizations, and data, leading to intensive and error-prone configuration efforts, and are mainly applicable to sub-processes and web services, failing to support business rules and internal controls effectively.
Innovation Solution
A declarative method is introduced to define and select process element variants based on a predefined hierarchical structure, allowing for dynamic selection of the most applicable variant during execution, encompassing all relevant dimensions of the Zachman Framework, including processes, events, locations, organizations, and data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If dynamic binding of process element variants is implemented using pre-defined rules and criteria, then the system can select appropriate variants during execution, but the configuration effort becomes intensive and error-prone when all possible enterprise dimensions must be covered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the enterprise dimensions (process, event, location, organization, data) into separate hierarchical structures, allowing independent configuration of each dimension. This segmentation enables the system to handle dynamic binding without requiring complete coverage of all dimension combinations, thereby reducing configuration complexity while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements partial action by allowing the system to function with incomplete variant definitions. Instead of requiring all possible variant combinations to be pre-configured, the system can operate with a subset of variants and dynamically determine appropriate selections during execution, reducing the intensive configuration effort.
2Reliability
If complete rule sets are defined for all possible combinations of enterprise dimensions, then all variants can be selected accurately, but the maintenance effort and cost become economically unviable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates universal hierarchical structures for enterprise dimensions that can serve multiple purposes and support various variant selection scenarios. These hierarchical structures enable the system to handle different selection contexts using the same framework, reducing the need for extensive custom rule sets while maintaining reliable variant selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic variant selection mechanisms that adapt to execution context without requiring static pre-configuration of all possibilities. The system can dynamically determine appropriate variants based on runtime conditions, reducing maintenance effort while preserving selection accuracy.
3Ease of manufacture
If dynamic binding is limited to sub-processes and web services, then the implementation is simpler, but the solution fails to support business rules and internal controls effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the dynamic binding mechanism to be universally applicable across all process element types including sub-processes, web services, business rules, and internal controls. The same hierarchical dimension framework supports all these different element types, achieving both simplicity through unified approach and versatility through broad coverage.
Data Source
AI summary
The technique relates to a system and method for selecting process element variants in business processes. The technique involves receiving a process element execution request from at least one user. Then, determining a plurality of enterprise dimensions associated with the process element execution request. Thereafter, searching the process element variant corresponding to the plurality of enterprise dimensions in a declarative way based on a predefined dimensional hierarchy. Finally, selecting the process element variant for execution to accomplish the user request. This technique employs a declarative approach which eliminates the need define the variants for all possible combination of enterprise dimensions namely process, events, locations, organizations and data.