The perceived quality of process discovery tools

TL;DR

This paper evaluates end-user perceptions of process discovery tools, highlighting the importance of non-functional aspects like usability and visualization, based on survey data from diverse user groups.

Contribution

It provides empirical insights into user perceptions of process discovery tools, emphasizing non-functional qualities often neglected in technical development.

Findings

Usability and visualization are crucial for end-user satisfaction.

Significant differences in perceptions exist between general users and Celonis users.

End-user feedback highlights areas for improving process discovery tools.

Abstract

Process discovery has seen a rise in popularity in the last decade for both researchers and businesses. Recent developments mainly focused on the power and the functionalities of the discovery algorithm. While continuous improvement of these functional aspects is very important, non-functional aspects such as visualization and usability are often overlooked. However, these aspects are considered valuable for end-users and play an important part in the experience of these end-users when working with a process discovery tool. A questionnaire has been sent out to give end-users the opportunity to voice their opinion on available process discovery tools and about the state of process discovery as a domain in general. The results of 66 respondents are presented and compared with the answers of 63 respondents that were contacted through one particular software vendor's employee and customer base (i.e., Celonis).