COVA- COURSE VALIDATION

Transcription

1 COVA- COURSE VALIDATION ARRANGER Evaluating BPM Toolsets For Higher Education Balbir Barn, Samia Oussena THAMES VALLEY UNIVERSITY {balbir.barn, CETIS Enterprise SIG Meeting April 4 th 2008

2 Agenda Introduction to the project Background, COVARM Scenarios COVA Project Aims and Objectives Approach Taken A very brief introduction to BPMN 1.0 Current Results Video Demonstration Final comments

3 Introduction to the project Course Validation ld Arranger (COVA) builds on the outcomes from the COVARM project The COVARM project ( key relevant outcomes were: A (large) synthesised business process model describing course validation activities An approach to managing g large complex processes using a decomposition approach based on events and sub-processes Two sub-processes or scenarios were implemented using WSDL Services implemented in JAVA, executed using BPEL and ORACLE BPEL Process Manager

4 Two sub-processes / Scenarios End to End process is large, complex and has multiple stop start points (event entry points) Technical feasibility limited to developing subsections of the process scenarios 1. Prepare programme proposal To get the initial approval to develop the new programme 2. Run Validation i Event To arrange the setting up of an event

5 Scenario 1: Set up Validation Event Notification Convene Panel Constraint::Panel Membership Event Logistics ValidationDocSpecificationSet Issue Documentation to Panel Members Get Feedback «Report» Validation Event Minute Run Validation Event Review All Documentation Produce Event Minute

6 BPEL Process Definition from Domain Sub-processes 1-1 Calendar_Port ValDoc_Port Timetabling_Port BPEL Process Definition ECows_Port Notification_Port Choreography constraints LearningProductSpecfica tion_port ProcessParticipatio n_port Sample operation details For one service Narrative Description

7 Emerging issues and evaluation BPEL Modelling Toolsets BPEL<>WSDL Links: Problems with complex data types in message flows Have to break down complex types into simple types on message flows Work arounds available WSDL to Code Cd generation New methods added to wsdl require full re-generation of code leading to cut and paste of old business logic BPEL Modelling Toolsets 7

8 Model Transformations 8 Single transformation Operation Specs BPEL specs IBM Rational XDE IBM Rational Software Architect JDeveloper BPEL Process Manager Issues: Model changes XSD Schemas Multiple transforms Multiple toolsets and notations Multiple training requirments Scenarios Manual WSDL production

9 COVa Course Validation Arranger Key Drivers Technical demands of using bespoke process implementation technology (COVARM example) Multiple toolsets and notations Widespread d adoption of the OMG standard d for process modelling BPMN 1.0 Emerging implementations of BPM toolsets Open source and Commercial products Increasing importance of role of process modelling within Higher Education Elaboration of process modelling needs in the e-framework

10 COVA: Aims and Objectives Aims: To explore the potential of open source business process management solutions as viable approach for the support of common administrative processes in HE Objectives A demonstration implementation of the two COVARM scenarios using a BPM toolset such as Intalio Designer. An evaluation of a BPM toolset an all encompassing environment Workshop collatoral on Process modelling and BPMN 1.0 Contributions to the e-framework k( (services, process modelling concepts)

11 Approach Taken

12 BPMN 1.0 on 4 slides What is BPMN? The BPM lifecycle A sample business process in BPMN The BPMN 1.0 notation ti Most toolsets have not implemented all aspects of the notation

13 What is BPMN? 13 M N MN Business Process Modelling Notation BPMN A flowchart based notation for defining business processes An agreement between many modelling tool vendors to use a single unified notation Benefits to end users in terms of training Enables generation of an executable business process from business level understanding

14 The BPM Life cycle Technical change is accepted: 14 Human change -Assess human capability -Human implications of process change -Human change management requirements analysis design requirements Ideally performed in a single tool or a set of integrated toolsets process model evaluation implementation case data enactment monitoring case data infrastructure Model based -The model is the process -Process is self-documenting -Design is self-executing

15 A sample business process in BPMN 15 Start Event Task Gateway Sequence Flow Sub-Process End Event

16 Business Process Modelling Notation - BPMN Adapted from White, S. (2005), Object Management Group.

17 Current Results BPMN workshops and other collateral Methodology Guidance Implementation ti of Prepare P Programme Proposal Process Patterns

18 BPMN Guidance and Methodology BPMN workshops Presentational Workshop material on BPMN and process modelling in general has been developed and is available on request. Whole Day workshop 3 hour workshop 1.5 hour workshop Handouts available at: Workshop.pdf Guidance Notes on Process Modelling for JISC Domain Maps Available as draft currently waiting for JISC to do final editing Extended abstract-along with readings list available at: t.pdf

19 Implementation of Prepare Programme Proposal UML Model Analysis Model Implementation Model Intalio Designer Toolset Translate COVARM UML model into BPMN Implement BPMN model using COVARM Services Execution of Scenario in Toolset Translation into BPMN Methodology needs Appropriate selection of notations Intalio Implementation of BPMN Implementing the scenario Consume COVARM WSDL services Forms Design in Intalio Mapping of data from forms to services

20 Analysis Models in BPMN - methods MDA principles: Computation independent model (CIM) Platform Independent model (PIM) Platform Specific model (PSM) Producing a CIM in Intalio presents methodology issues: Full expressive power of BPMN not available Need to represent joint activities in a single org unit How do you represent a Panel or Committee? Support for exchange of information between Roles in the same org. Unit

21 Examples of Methodology Issues CM CIM needs for TIMER events

22 Sequence and Message constraints BPMN rule: sequences in the same pool; message (information) flow across pools: But we need to share information between roles in the same pool (University): E.g. Computing Dept, Registry. Use of naming conventions: University: Registry Ui University: i Computing Dept Coordinating Tasks Univer rsity: Comp Dept Universi ity: Registr ry

23 Intalio Implementation - Services Existing COVARM WSDL Services New XCRI Service - output XML

24 Intalio Implementation: - Forms

25 Consuming Services and mapping data between forms and services

26 Execution video... Please check the COVA website for video availability

27 Some Issues in using Intalio Automatic ti creation of variables (from WSDL) to be used in the process, makes any change to WSDL requires re-work of the mapping activity Intalio makes it difficult to use types from WSDL schema. It will generate 2 imports one for the WSDL and another one when the type is assign to a variable. And this leads to conflicting schema. The workaround that I used is to create an equivalent schema and use it for the process variable. Intalio requires complete specification in gateways expression for the IF and the ELSE must be completed even if not required. Data is often required to be saved in intermediate variables to be used for a condition or in a sub process (different Context) The Community Edition for Intalio is shipped with an embedded database which is not scalable for large processes. (Need to reconfigure the server for MySQL. Intalio does allow you to import a WSDL (service) so you end up cut & past the WSDL. It does not handle the import of schema in a WSDL. Here as well you are required to cut&paste. Minor bugs updates in data mapper not reflected in the data editor Usability: resizing sub-processes or lanes; Printing is in-adequate. Debugging is difficult.

28 Conclusion Even when using BPM toolsets implementing and executing HE business processes appears to be TOO HARD! BPMN provides a realisable strategy for HE to deliver a computation independent model of systems Process modelling needs to be a first order concept in the e-framework QUESTIONS?