Process Interaction Diagrams: More than Chains or Transport Networks

Process modeling is a broad field of research in different application areas, especially in informatics. Corresponding notations (transport networks, etc.) usually contain sequences, splits and joins of processes. Between processes there are dependencies, which can have quite different semantics. These semantical relations are usually not explicitly expressed. In this chapter, we focus on a notation for a process, which has different aspects influencing the process, not only the input. This allows to connect different processes in specific ways, making clear what purpose the connection has and, thereby, characterizing different kinds of dependencies between processes. This extended notation we call process interaction diagrams (PIDs). We can express standard interactions of processes more precisely and are also able to express nonstandard forms of interaction. These diagrams can be applied in different domains, as mechanical engineering, informatics, etc. Interesting and complex interactions can be studied. The notation can be used for different levels of processes, as lifecycle level, project management of development teams, etc. The usual process notations are extended to express interactions like “a process creates a tool to be used in another process”.