BPMN Diagram versus Sequence Diagram

By Tim Ackroyd on

I am getting some great questions in our UML Operator Channel, as we are publishing a series on Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN). Modelers see the term "Sequence" in BPMN and get a little confused...probably my fault 😏. When using BPMN, just understand the difference between Unified Modeling Language (UML) and BPMN (an extension of UML) and things should fall into place. So now let's talk about BPMN vs UML Sequence Diagrams...

BPMN Diagram versus Sequence Diagram

BPMN diagrams and sequence diagrams are both types of visual representations used in the field of business process modeling and software engineering, respectively. While they share some similarities, they serve different purposes and focus on different aspects of a system or process.

BPMN Diagram:

Purpose:

  • BPMN (Business Process Model and Notation) is used for modeling and documenting business processes.
  • It provides a standardized way to represent the flow of activities, events, gateways, and the interactions between different participants or entities in a business process.

Key Features:

  • High-level Overview: BPMN diagrams offer a high-level overview of business processes, emphasizing the flow of activities and the involvement of different stakeholders.
  • Process Flow: Focuses on the flow of tasks and events within a business process, helping to understand the overall structure and logic.
  • Participants and Pools: Represents different participants (individuals, groups, or systems) involved in the process. Pools and lanes are used to organize and categorize activities.

Notation:

  • Utilizes symbols such as circles for events, rectangles for tasks, diamonds for gateways, and arrows for sequence flows. It also includes swimlanes to represent participants. NOTE that this is where some confusion comes in, as start events, decision gateways, and flow relationships look similar between UML Activity Diagrams and BPMN Diagrams.

Use Cases:

The term "Use Case" is what really throws Modelers off. While the symbols are different, the premise and objectives in modeling are the same. This is why I use the "Effective Use Case Form" I discuss in both Use Case and BPMN videos (refer to links above).
  • Used in business process analysis, improvement, and communication.
  • Suitable for stakeholders, including non-technical users, to understand and discuss business processes.

Sequence Diagram:

The cool thing here in using Sparx Enterprise Architect (EA) over simple drawing tools, is that you can build models-within-models using different extensions and tools. From here, you can produce simulations to understand and validate you model approaches, designs, and delivery.

Purpose:

  • Sequence diagrams are used in software engineering to model the interactions between objects or components within a system, particularly during the execution of a specific scenario or use case.

Key Features:

  • Detailed Interaction: Provides a detailed view of how different components or objects interact over time to accomplish a specific functionality.
  • Time Dimension: Emphasizes the chronological order of messages or method calls exchanged between objects.

Notation:

  • Represents lifelines (vertical lines for objects), messages (horizontal arrows for communication between objects), activation bars (to show the duration of an object's activity), and more.

Use Cases:

Often you will hear me call out "Scenarios" rather than "Use Case(s)". In many of my videos, I expose the "Structured Editor" in Sparx EA to support the project's uses and scenarios. A fun video to watch, is Scenarios Generated Diagrams (e32).

  • Commonly used during the design and development phases of software engineering.
  • Helps software architects and developers understand the dynamic aspects of a system and the sequence of actions during a particular scenario.

I hope this helps and I will try try to link from the Videos we create on BPMN, Flows, and Delivery. Note that while both BPMN diagrams and sequence diagrams are visual tools used in different domains, BPMN focuses on modeling business processes at a higher level, emphasizing the flow of activities and collaboration among participants. On the other hand, sequence diagrams are more detailed and specific, focusing on the interactions between objects or components within a system, making them particularly useful for software engineering and development purposes.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sparx EA and Open Collaboration

By Tim Ackroyd on
I get asked, quite often, "Is there a way to integrate Sparx Enterprise Architect (EA) with other tooling?" My answer is always, "Yes". There are multiple approaches, from very simple to more advanced. I have helped several shops do this over the years, and may do videos on this in the future. Integrating Sparx with Azure DevOps and other Cloud platforms, as well as other Tooling, is very possible and beneficial for managing delivery, such as requirements, problem solving, design, and development... all in a unified way.  The integration can allow companies/shops to seamlessly synchronize between Sparx EA's modeling environment and platforms, such as Azure DevOps'. Remember that one of the biggest benefits of Sparx EA over other modeling platforms, is that Sparx is based on Data-First implementation and supports open integration. Years ago, something call Open Services for Lifecycle Collaboration (OSLC) came out and Sparx was one of the first to embrace it. ...
Read more

MDA vs MDD

By Tim Ackroyd on
This post kicks of a new series on UML Operator Channel  UML Operator Channel around systems and software delivery, titled "Model-Driven Anything". Subscribe, turn on notifications, follow, and most importantly...Contribute 😎 IMPORTANT NOTE: Never start a software development effort without Requirements!!! or Scope!!! However, sometimes software starts out as a means of developing scope and requirements! So what are we talking about? Model-Driven Architecture (MDA) and Model-Driven Development (MDD) are both approaches within the realm of software development that emphasize the use of models as primary artifacts in the software engineering process. However, they have distinct focuses and methodologies. Here are the key differences between the two: Model-Driven Architecture (MDA) Origin and Standardization: Origin: MDA is a software design approach proposed by the Object Management Group (OMG). Standardization: It is a well-defined framework with standardized guidelines and...
Read more