A Practitioner’s Guide to BPMN 2.0 as a Process Improvement Tool

The “Text Annotation” Element (or shape) within the BPMN 2.0 standard is the unsung hero of Process Mapping. Using this shape, a skilled Process Modeler can resolve conflict and inspire innovation from Process Owners, Executives, and front-line employees alike. In the real-life examples that follow, we will explore uses for this simple shape, and discover how it has been used to elevate Process Flow Diagrams from a simple documentation tool into a true process improvement tool.

Text Annotations as Described in the BPMN 2.0 Standard

The formal BPMN 2.0 standard is maintained and governed through the Object Management Group. The standard defines what the Annotation shape is intended to accomplish:

The Impact of Digital Transformation on Process Governance

Most companies have launched digital transformation initiatives (Kirchmer, Franz, Lotterer, Antonucci, Laengle, 2016). Hyper-Automation has become a reality which changes the way business processes are organized and executed (Stoudt-Hansen, et al., 2019). However, only a small number of organizations have their business processes sufficiently under control to realize the full potential of new digital technologies (Kirchmer, 2019) (Cantara, 2015). Appropriate business process management (BPM) capabilities have a significant impact on the value achieved through digitalization (Antonucci, et al., 2020).

Too often in Project Management roles, we experience a sense of deja-vu: the unshakeable feeling that we’ve been here before and we’ve done this already. After we successfully complete projects, we charter new ones with a never-ending focus on continuous improvement. However, astute Project Managers often start to notice that these new projects are re-runs of the same patterns. Teams face the same obstacles, solve the same problems, and even re-trace the footsteps of earlier projects that didn’t “stick” after the previous project team had declared victory.

The conversation between friends that follows below will be familiar to Project Managers who recognize these patterns. I hope that by sharing our conversation about Business Process Management, you will also have success in disrupting the deja-vu problem we faced.

The business world is about to enter another cycle of major change. This cycle will definitely change every part of business operations and the way companies interact with customers. The driving forces are not only automation and advance technology but most importantly, the pace at which both are changing.

The question is “does your company have the ability to take advantage of the hyperautomation revolution that has started?”

You have all heard of hyperautomation, hyper digitalization, and hyper technology revolution. By whatever name it is called in your organization, it is here and it is fast becoming a force you will need to reckon with.

I have spent the last 30 years evangelizing about the importance of well understood processes. We formalized the UPN (Universal Process Notation) approach which was based on SSADM. And we built a process mapping software vendor in the UK which was acquired by US process automation player and I now live in San Francisco where I have become an avid student of “the Silicon Valley way”.  

After a year or two off, I got 3 of the founders back together and we have launched a company which aims at helping the Fortune 5Million, not just the Fortune 500, to do a better job of systems implementation. At the heart of that is better process documentation. And the sweet spot is Salesforce.com implementations.

Why? Because it is a massive market that has an unmet and growing need. We can make a big difference helping every company achieve and maintain operational excellence. And because we can.

Growing pains