Business Processes - How to Differentiate Between Terms Such As BPM, BPMN, IDEF0 and OPF2

Several standards have been developed aroundHowever, the aim of process design is not only to
process management and process mapping. Themake the process designs executable, but also for
Business Process Modelling Notation (BPMN) standard,those involved in the process to be able to look and
for example, gives guidelines on how processstudy the process and understand their place in the
flowcharts should look like and which symbols to use.whole chain of events. Because both IDEFO an OPF2
The Business Process Execution Language (BPEL),are more technical in their approach, they are thus
however, does not describe the look-and-feel, but ismore difficult to grasp for non-technical people.
is a format for the execution of processes defined.Not all the process models and standards are aimed
IDEF0 is an older process mapping standard that usedat describing processes that link systems together
different symbols than the now popular BPMNthat can be executed automatically. Most of the
standard in use. It organizes flowcharts as hierarchicalprocesses around us have a human touch to it and
series of diagrams. It has earned its right to existrequire some human interaction. If humans are to
through the Air Force ICAM project, and was largelyunderstand the actions they have to perform in
used to describe systems in technical environments.order to fulfill their role in the process, it is essential
OPF2 (Open Process Framework) is anotherthat they understand the process. The process
meta-model for describing software and engineeringmapping method and BPMN notation help clarifying
processes and it uses a rather technical notationworkflows by using easy to understand symbols and
system to visualize the design of the process.notations that everyone involved can understand.