Modeling Data Objects, Groups, and Text Annotations in BPMN – True Aqua Case Study (Part 4)

Traditional modeling techniques allow creation, reading, and updating of data during process execution; BPMN, although not primarily a data‑modeling language, provides a set of symbols for modeling data within business processes.

Data

During a business process, data such as purchase orders, invoices, and receipts may be generated. BPMN models these with data objects, data inputs, data outputs, and data stores, and supports lifecycle management (e.g., instantiate, complete, delete).

Group

A group is a dashed‑border box that lets modelers visually group shapes by category.

Text Annotation

Text annotations add extra details to flow objects without affecting the flow, providing clarifying information.

Case Study – True Aqua Distilled Water Company (Continuation)

In the third part of this tutorial you modeled the distilled‑water ordering process. This part adds data objects and annotations to describe the flow in more detail.

When the task Verify Customer Identity creates a purchase order, drag the resource‑directory icon onto the task and drop a Data Object named "Purchase Order".

Define the lifecycle of the purchase order by adding states. Right‑click the data object, choose State → Create , and name the state Create . After the customer service assistant forwards the order, the purchase order waits for assignment by the logistics manager; add a state Assigned in the same way.

When the logistics manager completes the delivery task, the purchase order moves to a Delivered state, and finally to a Completed state when delivery is finished.

To capture additional details, create a text annotation on the task sequence. The annotation reads: "Over 90% of requests are made by phone, 10% by email." Adjust the annotation size so the text wraps over multiple lines.

The final Business Process Diagram (BPD) now includes data objects with their states and the explanatory text annotation.

Other Parts of the BPMN Introduction

Part 1 – BPMN Introduction Business Architecture – BPMN Part 1

Part 2 – Swimlanes Business Architecture – BPMN Part 2

Part 3 – Flow and Connecting Objects Business Architecture – BPMN Part 3

Original article: http://jiagoushi.pro/node/1082

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