journal article
Apr 08, 2026
Towards Effective BPMN Plus Extensions: A Methodological Framework
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Enterprise Information Systems (EISs) require business process models that support integrity, flexibility, and interoperability across organizational layers. Although BPMN 2.0.2 is widely recognized for structuring, executing, and analyzing organizational workflows, it remains limited in its ability to represent complex, flexible, highly dynamic, interactive, and knowledge‐intensive processes. To address this limitation, this paper proposes EM‐BPMN+X (Methodology for the Development of BPMN Plus Extensions), a requirements‐driven and ontology‐based methodology for engineering domain‐specific BPMN 2.0.2 extensions. This research follows the Design Science Research Methodology (DSRM) to ensure the rigor and relevance of its scientific contributions. It incorporates best practices in BPMN extension development within a long‐term, requirements‐driven research process involving iterative refinements and practical evaluations. EM‐BPMN+X structures the extension engineering process from domain requirement analysis to conceptual modeling, semantic alignment with BPMN, meta‐model definition, and implementation in a modeling environment. The proposed methodology provides a methodologically structured and semantically grounded process for developing BPMN extensions. Its instantiation in the domain of Sensitive Business Processes (SBPs) led to BPMN4SBP, which illustrates the feasibility and practical applicability of the approach in a demanding knowledge‐intensive context. The results show that EM‐BPMN+X supports the traceable transformation of domain requirements into BPMN‐compliant extension artifacts and improves the expressiveness of BPMN for representing collaborative, dynamic, and knowledge‐intensive processes within the selected domain context.
Enterprise Information Systems (EISs) require business process models that support integrity, flexibility, and interoperability across organizational layers. Although BPMN 2.0.2 is widely recognized for structuring, executing, and analyzing organizational workflows, it remains limited in its ability to represent complex, flexible, highly dynamic, interactive, and knowledge‐intensive processes. To address this limitation, this paper proposes EM‐BPMN+X (Methodology for the Development of BPMN Plus Extensions), a requirements‐driven and ontology‐based methodology for engineering domain‐specific BPMN 2.0.2 extensions. This research follows the Design Science Research Methodology (DSRM) to ensure the rigor and relevance of its scientific contributions. It incorporates best practices in BPMN extension development within a long‐term, requirements‐driven research process involving iterative refinements and practical evaluations. EM‐BPMN+X structures the extension engineering process from domain requirement analysis to conceptual modeling, semantic alignment with BPMN, meta‐model definition, and implementation in a modeling environment. The proposed methodology provides a methodologically structured and semantically grounded process for developing BPMN extensions. Its instantiation in the domain of Sensitive Business Processes (SBPs) led to BPMN4SBP, which illustrates the feasibility and practical applicability of the approach in a demanding knowledge‐intensive context. The results show that EM‐BPMN+X supports the traceable transformation of domain requirements into BPMN‐compliant extension artifacts and improves the expressiveness of BPMN for representing collaborative, dynamic, and knowledge‐intensive processes within the selected domain context.
Topics
No keywords indexed for this article. Browse by subject →
References
81
[1]
Abouzid I. (2019)
[2]
Ait A. J. L.Cánovas Izquierdo andJ.Cabot.2024.“Towards Modeling Human‐Agentic Collaborative Workflows: A BPMN Extension.”arXiv Preprint arXiv:2412.05958.https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2412.05958.
10.1007/978-3-032-04190-6_22
[3]
Amdah L. (2018) 10.1109/cist.2018.8596422
[4]
Ammann E. M. "Modeling of Knowledge‐Intensive Business Processes" World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology, International Journal of Social, Behavioral, Educational, Economic, Business and Industrial Engineering (2012)
[5]
Ben Hassen M. "Graphical Specification of Sensitive Business Processes" Procedia Computer Science (2024) 10.1016/j.procs.2024.05.084
[6]
Ben Hassen M. "Comparative Analysis of Contemporary Modeling Languages Based on BPM4KI Meta‐Model for Sensitive Business Processes Representation" International Journal of Enterprise Information Systems (IJEIS) (2018) 10.4018/ijeis.2018070103
[7]
Ben Hassen M. "BPMN4KM: Design and Implementation of a BPMN Extension for Modeling the Knowledge Perspective of Sensitive Business Processes" Journal of Procedia Computer Science (2017) 10.1016/j.procs.2017.12.121
[8]
Ben Hassen M. "A Multicriteria Evaluation Approach for Selecting a Sensitive Business Process Modeling Language for Knowledge Management" Journal on Data Semantics (JODS) (2019) 10.1007/s13740-019-00103-5
[10]
Ben Hassen M. "Business View Specification of Enterprise Information Systems Based on Core Ontologies" Procedia Computer Science (2024) 10.1016/j.procs.2024.05.118
[11]
Betke and Seifert (2017)
[12]
Bocciarelli P. (2016)
[13]
Bonitasoft.2025.Bonita Documentationhttps://documentation.bonitasoft.com/bonita/latest/. Version 2025.2
[14]
BPMN‐io (2025)
[15]
Braun R. (2015)
[16]
Braun R. (2014)
[17]
Braun R. "BPMN4CP: Design and Implementation of a BPMN Extension for Clinical Pathways" IEEE International Conference on Bioinformatics and Biomedicine (2014)
[18]
Braun R. (2015)
[19]
Braun R. (2016)
[20]
Bukhsh Z. A. (2017)
[21]
Camunda (2025)
[22]
Camunda (2025)
[23]
Cartelli V. (2016) 10.1007/978-3-319-52758-1_26
[24]
Carvalho L. P. (2018) 10.1007/978-3-319-74030-0_57
[25]
Chergui M. E. A. "Towards a BPMN Security Extension for the Visualization of Cyber Security Requirements" International Journal of Technology Diffusion (IJTD) (2020) 10.4018/ijtd.2020040101
[26]
Chesser J.2017.“Custom Elements in Meta Model Extension for BPMN 2.0.”BPMN.Io Forum.https://forum.bpmn.io/t/custom‐elements‐in‐meta‐model‐extension‐for‐bpmn‐2‐0/1272.
[29]
Domingos D. (2016)
[30]
Dörndorfer J. (2017)
[31]
Dukaric R. "BPMN Extensions for Automating Cloud Environments Using a Two‐Layer Orchestration Approach" Journal of Visual Languages and Computing (2018) 10.1016/j.jvlc.2018.06.002
[32]
Dumas M. F.Fournier L.Limonad et al.2022.“Augmented Business Process Management Systems: A Research Manifesto.”CoRR abs/2201.12855.https://dblp.org/db/journals/corr/corr2201.html#abs‐2201‐12855.
[33]
Fellmann M. P.Delfmann A.Koschmider R.Laue H.Leopold andA.Schoknecht.2015.“Semantic Technology in Business Process Modeling and Analysis. Part 1: Matching Modeling Support Correctness and Compliance.”EMISA Forum 2015.
[34]
Fellmann M. "Checking the Semantic Correctness of Process Models‐an Ontology‐Driven Approach Using Domain Knowledge and Rules" Enterprise Modelling and Information Systems Architectures (EMISAJ)‐International Journal of Conceptual Modeling (2011)
[35]
Flowable (2025)
[36]
Flowable (2025)
[37]
Graja I. (2017)
[38]
Guarino N. (1998)
[39]
Heguy X. "Tracking Interoperability and Data Quality: A Methodology With BPMN 2.0 Extensions and Performance Evaluation" Modelling (2024) 10.3390/modelling5030042
[40]
Heguy X. (2019)
[41]
Hevner A. (2010)
[42]
Intrigila B. "A Lightweight BPMN Extension for Business Process‐Oriented Requirements Engineering" Computers (2021) 10.3390/computers10120171
[43]
Kassel G. "From Collective Actions to Actions of Organizations: An Ontological Analysis" Understanding and Modelling Collective Phenomena (2012)
[44]
Louar F. (2018)
[45]
Mandal S. (2017)
[46]
Martinho R. "CF4BPMN: A BPMN Extension for Controlled Flexibility in Business Processes" Procedia Computer Science (2015) 10.1016/j.procs.2015.08.509
[47]
Masolo C. S.Borgo A.Gangemi et al.2003.“The WonderWeb Library of Foundational Ontologies and the DOLCE Ontology.”WonderWeb Deliverable D18 Final Report(version 1.0 31‐12‐2003).
[48]
Neumann J. "“Extending BPMN 2.0 for Intraoperative Workflow Modeling” With IEEE 11073 SDC for Description and Orchestration of Interoperable, Networked Medical Devices" International Journal of Computer Assisted Radiology and Surgery (2019) 10.1007/s11548-019-01982-6
[49]
OMG.2012.“Diagram Definition (DD).”Version 1.0.http://www.omg.org/spec/DD/1.0/PDF/.
[50]
OMG.2013.“Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN).”Accessed 10 April 2021.http://www.omg.org/spec/BPMN/2.0.2.
Showing 50 of 81 references
Metrics
0
Citations
81
References
Details
- Published
- Apr 08, 2026
- License
- View
Authors
Cite This Article
Mariam Ben Hassen, Faiez Gargouri (2026). Towards Effective
BPMN
Plus Extensions: A Methodological Framework. Knowledge and Process Management. https://doi.org/10.1002/kpm.70078
Related
You May Also Like
COVID‐19 crisis andSMEsresponses: The role of digital transformation
Vinícius Barreto Klein, José Leomar Todesco · 2021
337 citations
Contextual constraints in knowledge management theory: the cultural embeddedness of Nonaka's knowledge‐creating company
Martin Glisby, Nigel Holden · 2003
129 citations
Cultural embeddedness and contextual constraints: knowledge sharing in Chinese and Arab cultures
David Weir, Kate Hutchings · 2005
115 citations
Objectivity and subjectivity in knowledge management: a review of 20 top articles
Ikujiro Nonaka, Vesa Peltokorpi · 2006
114 citations
Linking Organizational Commitment and Work Engagement to Employee Performance
Francisco Cesário, Maria José Chambel · 2017
110 citations