@conference {Bocciarelli2014278, title = {Empowering business process simulation through automated model transformations}, booktitle = {Simulation Series}, volume = {46}, number = {4}, year = {2014}, note = {cited By 2}, pages = {278-286}, publisher = {The Society for Modeling and Simulation International}, organization = {The Society for Modeling and Simulation International}, abstract = {Simulation is one of the most relevant techniques that can be used in the business process management domain to effectively enact a continuous enhancement of business processes (BPs). However, the effectiveness of BP simulation is still limited for several reasons (e.g., lack of simulation know-how of BP analysts, simulation model parameters hard to determine, semantic gap between the business process model and the simulation model). To overcome these limitations, this paper proposes a model-driven method that introduces a set of model transformations to automate the generation of executable simulation code of a BP from its abstract definition in BPMN, the standard language for specifying business processes. The simulation code is specified in eBPMN, a Java-based domain-specific language that has been designed and implemented according to the BPMN execution semantics.}, keywords = {Administrative data processing, BPM, BPMN, Computer simulation, Computer simulation languages, EBPMN, Enterprise resource management, Mathematical models, MDA, Model transformation, Problem oriented languages, Semantics, Software architecture, Technology transfer}, isbn = {9781632662156}, issn = {07359276}, url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84901985241\&partnerID=40\&md5=ebb5d7bb28209e8901e06a4b70f40735}, author = {Bocciarelli, P. and Andrea D{\textquoteright}Ambrogio and Giglio, A. and Paglia, E. and Gianni, D.} } @conference {Bocciarelli2014325, title = {A language for enabling model-driven analysis of business processes}, booktitle = {MODELSWARD 2014 - Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Model-Driven Engineering and Software Development}, year = {2014}, note = {cited By 5}, pages = {325-332}, publisher = {SciTePress}, organization = {SciTePress}, abstract = {
The use of simulation-based approaches for the analysis of business processes enables the design-time prediction of the process behavior and/or the operation-time process reconfiguration. However, the effectiveness of BP simulation is still limited for several reasons (e.g., lack of simulation know-how of BP analysts, simulation model parameters that can be hard to gather, large semantic gap between the business process model and the simulation model). To overcome such limitations, this paper introduces a modeldriven method to automatically build the executable simulation code of a business process from its abstract definition in BPMN, the standard language for specifying business processes. The simulation code is specified in eBPMN, a novel domain-specific language that has been designed and implemented according to the BPMN execution semantics. Copyright {\textcopyright} 2014 SCITEPRESS - Science and Technology Publications. All rights reserved.
}, keywords = {BPMN, Business Process, Computer simulation, Computer simulation languages, Domain specific languages, Model transformation, Performance, Problem oriented languages, Semantics, Simulation, Software design, Technology transfer}, isbn = {9789897580079}, url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84906910126\&partnerID=40\&md5=d8853e490341214705bedcb2f8ce2260}, author = {Bocciarelli, P. and Andrea D{\textquoteright}Ambrogio and Paglia, E.} } @conference {Gianni2014201, title = {Temporal capabilities in support of conceptual process modeling using object- Role modeling (work in progress)}, booktitle = {Simulation Series}, volume = {46}, number = {4}, year = {2014}, note = {cited By 1}, pages = {201-206}, publisher = {The Society for Modeling and Simulation International}, organization = {The Society for Modeling and Simulation International}, abstract = {Conceptual data modeling languages must be provided with temporal capabilities to support the data evolution throughout the execution of a conceptual process model. Asides from supporting the storage of historical data, temporal capabilities must also provide the means for verifying the consistency between the data temporal properties and the data modification resulting from the process execution. The Object-Role Modeling (ORM) language is a conceptual data modeling language that is based on the concepts of Fact (i.e. true statements on the represented world), Fact Type, and Fact Base (i.e. the set of all the Facts). Currently, the ORM language does not address the specification of Facts temporal properties, and therefore does not also support the verification of Facts variations during a process execution. The paper introduces an initial ORM overlay methodology that aims to laying the foundation of the conceptual modeling structures that can support the verification of temporal evolution of conceptual data models (i.e., whether a Fact can be asserted or retracted, depending on its temporal properties). Moreover, the overlay methodology also defines a temporal visual notation and an initial semi-formal temporal verbalization that eases the use of the methodology to the ORM modelers. A simple example illustrates the potential application of the overlay methodology.}, keywords = {Computer simulation, Conceptual data modeling, Conceptual data models, Data modification, Digital storage, Object-role modeling, Process engineering, Process execution, Process Modeling, Temporal evolution, Temporal modeling}, isbn = {9781632662156}, issn = {07359276}, url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84901987698\&partnerID=40\&md5=db5df894ce84d4770a6c882cac28c018}, author = {Gianni, D. and Bocciarelli, P. and Andrea D{\textquoteright}Ambrogio} } @conference {Bocciarelli2013218, title = {4SEE: A model-driven simulation engineering framework for business process analysis in a SaaS paradigm}, booktitle = {Simulation Series}, volume = {45}, number = {4}, year = {2013}, note = {cited By 1}, pages = {218-225}, abstract = {The intrinsic geographical distribution and the increasing complexity are two significant properties of modern business processes (BPs) that have not been fully addressed by existing simulation tools for BP analysis. Quantitative analysis of BPs is essential both at design time, to predict the BP quality of service (QoS), and at execution time, to dynamically reconfigure the BP and guarantee the pre-agreed QoS. In this respect, this work proposes a model-driven QoS-aware framework for simulation-based quantitative analysis of BPs. Specifically, the framework adopts a distributed simulation approach that replicates the service-oriented infrastructure of a BP into the corresponding simulation infrastructure based on the HLA-Evolved standard. The proposed framework assumes a scenario in which service providers publish a set of simulation-oriented services that can be subsequently used by interested consumers to dynamically discover and evaluate the QoS of the offered services. Key to the economical feasibility of this scenario is that a model-driven approach is used to automate the derivation of the simulation software from the BPMN (Business Process Model \& Notation) models of the actual BPs. The paper presents both the proposed model-driven framework, named 4SEE, and an example application to a BP for an e-commerce scenario.}, keywords = {Business process analysis, Business process model, Computer simulation, Computer software, Distributed simulations, Economical feasibility, Model driven approach, Quality of service, Service-oriented infrastructures, Simulation engineering, Simulation software}, isbn = {9781627480321}, issn = {07359276}, url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84876848381\&partnerID=40\&md5=735bc33d9335c85e8f26a7d6dfe860c8}, author = {Bocciarelli, P. and Andrea D{\textquoteright}Ambrogio and Gianni, D.} } @conference {Bocciarelli2012266, title = {Automated performance analysis of business processes}, booktitle = {Simulation Series}, volume = {44}, number = {4 BOOK}, year = {2012}, note = {cited By 7}, pages = {266-274}, abstract = {Business processes (BPs) can be seen as flows of tasks that are orchestrated to accomplish well-defined goals. The ability to predict at design time the BP behavior assumes a strategic relevance, both to early assess whether or not the business goals are achieved and to gain a competitive advantage. This paper focuses on the performance prediction of BPs. Specifically, this work introduces a model-driven method that, starting from a performance-enabled description of a BP, first derives a BP performance model of EQN (Extended Queueing Network) type, and then generates and executes the EQN model implementation, thus enacting a fully automated analysis of the business process behavior. The performance model implementation is carried out by use of jEQN, a java-based domain specific language for specifying and executing EQN models. The paper also describes how the proposed model-driven method has been effectively implemented.}, keywords = {BPMN, Business Process, Competition, Computer simulation, EQN, Java programming language, jEQN, MDA, Performance, Software architecture}, isbn = {9781618397867}, issn = {07359276}, url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84876469347\&partnerID=40\&md5=1912c0d789945a9c91c8ebe913ccaddf}, author = {Bocciarelli, P. and Andrea D{\textquoteright}Ambrogio} } @conference {Bocciarelli201249, title = {A model-driven approach to build HLA-based distributed simulations from SysML models}, booktitle = {SIMULTECH 2012 - Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Simulation and Modeling Methodologies, Technologies and Applications}, year = {2012}, note = {cited By 6}, pages = {49-60}, abstract = {The analysis and design of complex systems, which very often are composed of several sub-systems, takes advantages by the use of distributed simulation techniques. Unfortunately, the development of distributed simulation systems requires a significant expertise and a considerable effort for the inherent complexity of available standards, such as HLA. This paper introduces a model-driven approach to support the automated generation of HLA-based distributed simulations starting from system descriptions specified by use of SysML (Systems Modeling Language), the UML-based general purpose modeling language for systems engineering. The proposed approach is founded on the use of model transformation techniques and relies on standards introduced by the Model Driven Architecture (MDA). The method exploits several UML models that embody the details required to support two transformations that automatically map the source SysML model into a HLA-specific model and then use the latter to generate the Java/HLA source code. To this purpose, this paper also introduces two UML profiles, used to annotate UML diagrams in order both to represent HLA-based details and to support the automated generation of the HLA-based simulation code.}, keywords = {Computer simulation, HLA, Model-driven, QVT, Simulation, Software architecture, SysML, Unified Modeling Language}, isbn = {9789898565204}, url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84867729868\&partnerID=40\&md5=fafd37b90daa458cc5075061c63c5357}, author = {Bocciarelli, P. and Andrea D{\textquoteright}Ambrogio and Fabiani, G.} } @conference {Bocciarelli2012, title = {A model-driven method for building distributed simulation systems from business process models}, booktitle = {Proceedings - Winter Simulation Conference}, year = {2012}, note = {cited By 6}, abstract = {The analysis of modern business processes implemented as orchestration of software services demands for new approaches that explicitly take into account the inherent complexity and distribution characteristics of such processes. In this respect, Distributed Simulation (DS) offers a viable tool to cope with such a demand, due to the aggregation, scalability, representativeness and load balancing properties that it allows to achieve. However, the use of DS is mostly limited by the specialized technical know-how and the extra-development that DS requires with respect to approaches based on conventional local simulation. This paper proposes a model-driven method that enables the DS-based analysis of business processes by introducing the automated transformation of business process models into analysis models that are specified as Extended Queueing Network (EQN) models and executed as distributed simulations. The paper also presents an example application to a business process for an e-commerce scenario. {\textcopyright} 2012 IEEE.}, keywords = {Analysis models, Automated transformations, Business Process, Business process model, Computer simulation, Distributed computer systems, Distributed simulation systems, Distributed simulations, Distribution characteristics, Inherent complexity, Load balancing properties, Model-driven method, New approaches, Software services, Technical know hows, Technology transfer}, isbn = {9781467347792}, issn = {08917736}, doi = {10.1109/WSC.2012.6465106}, url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84874755866\&partnerID=40\&md5=8d358a15fcb545b3725d825b701fc795}, author = {Bocciarelli, P. and Pieroni, A. and Gianni, D. and Andrea D{\textquoteright}Ambrogio} } @conference {Gianni2012, title = {Model-driven performance prediction of HLA-based distributed simulation systems}, booktitle = {Proceedings - Winter Simulation Conference}, year = {2012}, note = {cited By 3}, abstract = {Performance models offer a convenient tool to assess design alternatives and predict the execution time of distributed simulation (DS) systems at design time, before system implementation. Currently, performance models are to be manually developed and the related extra effort often becomes the limiting factor for their cost- and time-effective use. In this paper, we aim to reduce this extra effort with the introduction of a model-driven method for the automated building of performance models whose evaluation provides a prediction about of the execution time of a distributed simulation system. As such, the method contributes to bring software performance engineering techniques into the distributed simulation system lifecycle. In particular, we show how the SysML-based specification of the system to be simulated and the design documents of the DS system can be used to derive the topology and the parameters of a performance model specified according to the Extended Queueing Network formalism. {\textcopyright} 2012 IEEE.}, keywords = {Automated buildings, Computer simulation, Design, Design alternatives, Design documents, Design time, Distributed computer systems, Distributed simulation systems, Distributed simulations, Execution time, Forecasting, Model-driven, Model-driven method, Performance Model, Performance prediction, Software performance engineerings, System implementation, Topology}, isbn = {9781467347792}, issn = {08917736}, doi = {10.1109/WSC.2012.6465255}, url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84874698997\&partnerID=40\&md5=a02b093d52a8995b3774ab0d2df86fb2}, author = {Gianni, D. and Bocciarelli, P. and Andrea D{\textquoteright}Ambrogio} } @conference {Bocciarelli2011160, title = {A BPMN extension for modeling non functional properties of business processes}, booktitle = {Simulation Series}, volume = {43}, number = {1 BOOK 4}, year = {2011}, note = {cited By 27}, pages = {160-168}, abstract = {Business Process Management (BPM) is an holistic approach for describing, analyzing, executing, managing and improving large enterprise business processes, which can be seen as collections of related tasks executed to accomplish well-defined goals. This paper introduces a notation for the description of a business process in terms of both functional and non-functional properties, specifically addressing the performance and reliability characterization of a business process. In the BPM context, the Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN) is the de-facto standard for the high-level description of business processes. Unfortunately BPMN does not support the characterization of the business process in terms of non-functional properties such as performance and reliability. To overcome such limitation, this paper introduces PyBPMN (Performability-enabled BPMN), a lightweight BPMN extension for the specification of properties that address both performance and reliability. The proposed extension is based on an approach that exploits principles and standards introduced by the Model Driven Architecture (MDA), thus obtaining significant advantages in terms of easy customization and improved automation. The paper also presents an example application of the proposed extension to show how it enables the automated transformation of a business process model into a parameterized performance model whose execution gives insights about the process behavior.}, keywords = {Administrative data processing, BPMN, Business Process, Business process management, Business process model, Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN), Computer simulation, Enterprise resource management, MDA, Model driven architectures, Performance and reliabilities, Reliability, Software architecture, Systems engineering}, isbn = {9781617828386}, issn = {07359276}, url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84887029950\&partnerID=40\&md5=286bf26106c501019949590c37d312e2}, author = {Bocciarelli, P. and Andrea D{\textquoteright}Ambrogio} }