Process Models:

Process models are processes of the same nature that are classified together into a model. Thus, a process model is a description of a process at the type level. Since the process model is at the type level, a process is an instantiation of it. The same process model is used repeatedly for the development of many applications and thus, has many instantiations. One possible use of a process model is to prescribe how things must/should/could be done in contrast to the process itself which is really what happens. A process model is roughly an anticipation of what the process will look like.

The goals of a process model are:
• To be Descriptive
o Track what actually happens during a process.
o Takes the point of view of an external observer who looks at the way a process has been performed and determines the improvements that have to be made to make it perform more effectively or efficiently.
• Prescriptive
o Defines the desired processes and how they should/could/might be performed.
o Lays down rules, guidelines, and behavior patterns which, if followed, would lead to the desired process performance. They can range from strict enforcement to flexible guidance.
• Explanatory
o Provides explanations about the rationale of processes.
o Explore and evaluate the several possible courses of action based on rational arguments.
o Establish an explicit link between processes and the requirements that the model needs to fulfill.
o Pre-defines points at which data can be extracted for reporting purposes.
Processes can be of different kinds. These definitions “correspond to the various ways in which a process can be modeled”.
• Strategic processes
o investigate alternative ways of doing a thing and eventually produce a plan for doing it
o are often creative and require human co-operation; thus, alternative generation and selection from an alternative are very critical activities
• Tactical processes
o help in the achievement of a plan
o are more concerned with the tactics to be adopted for actual plan achievement than with the development of a plan of achievement
• Implementation processes
o are the lowest level processes
o are directly concerned with the details of the what and how of plan implementation