Towards Structured Business Process Modeling Languages

Process-Aware Information System (PAIS) is a softwaresystem driven by explicit Business Process (BP) models. A basic PAIS provides at least an execution engine, a Business Process Modeling Language (BPML) and a graphical editor. The editor is mainly used to design new BP models, maintain existing ones and check their correctness. BPMLs typically embrace an unstructured control-flow paradigm that allows one to create a BP model by connecting the available elements without following any specific construction pattern. Nevertheless, several research efforts confirm that it is a good practice to use structured forms whenever possible in order to avoid subtle errors. This paper aims to promote the design of novel BPMLs able to support a fully structured control-flow approach. This goal is pursued by exposing pitfalls and myths that surround unstructured BPMLs and prevent any further investigation in the structured direction. The desired features of a structured BPML are outlined at the end of the paper.