Inter-Paradigm Translation of Process Models using Simulation and Mining

TL;DR

This paper introduces an approach for automatically translating process models between imperative and declarative languages using simulation and mining, addressing the challenge of low understandability and tool support in declarative models.

Contribution

It presents a novel method that leverages process simulation and mining to enable inter-paradigm translation without explicit transformation rules.

Findings

Successful transformation between process modeling languages demonstrated

Improved understanding of declarative models through translation

No need for explicit transformation rules in the process

Abstract

Process modeling is usually done using imperative modeling languages like BPMN or EPCs. In order to cope with the complexity of human-centric and flexible business processes several declarative process modeling languages (DPMLs) have been developed during the last years. DPMLs allow for the specification of constraints that restrict execution flows. They differ widely in terms of their level of expressiveness and tool support. Furthermore, research has shown that the understandability of declarative process models is rather low. Since there are applications for both classes of process modeling languages, there arises a need for an automatic translation of process models from one language into another. Our approach is based upon well-established methodologies in process management for process model simulation and process mining without requiring the specification of model transformation rules. In this paper, we present the technique in principle and evaluate it by transforming process models between two exemplary process modeling languages.