UML-based Process Model Definition

Abstract

Process model definitions serve the purpose of modeling knowledge about a process or a family of processes. They are instances of a process meta model. Depending on the degree of available knowledge, it has to be possible to create process model definitions with a wide spectrum of detail and precision. As we have argued in Chapter 1, it must be possible to create vague and rather unspecific as well as highly structured and constrained process model definitions. Even within one process, the available knowledge for parts of the process may vary which results in heterogeneous process model definitions regarding the degree of structuring. We have argued that instance- and most importantly type-level process model definitions are needed in the context of continuously evolving development processes.