Modelling blockchain-based business processes: a comparative analysis of BPMN vs CMMN

Abstract

Purpose

Blockchain technology is increasingly positioned as a promising and disruptive technology. Such a promise has attracted companies to explore how blockchain technology can be used to gain significant benefits. Process models play a cardinal role when seeking to improve business processes as they are the foundation of process analysis and redesign. This paper examines how blockchain-oriented processes can be conceptually modelled with activity- (BPMN) and artifact-centric (CMMN) modelling paradigms.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper discusses how commonly occurring patterns, specific to block-chain-based applications, can be modelled with BPMN and CMMN. Furthermore, the advantages and disadvantages of both notations for accurately representing blockchain-specific patterns are discussed.

Findings

The main finding of this paper is that neither BPMN nor CMMN can adequately and accurately represent certain patterns specific for blockchain-oriented processes. BPMN, while supporting most of the patterns, does not provide sufficient support to represent tokenization. CMMN, on the other hand, does not provide support to distinguish between activities executed and data stored on-chain versus off-chain.

Originality/value

The paper provides insight into the strengths and weaknesses of BPMN and CMMN for modelling processes to be supported by blockchain. This will serve to aid analysts to produce better process models for communication purposes and, thereby, facilitate development of blockchain-based solutions.

Citation

Milani, F., Garcia-Banuelos, L., Filipova, S. and Markovska, M. (2021), "Modelling blockchain-based business processes: a comparative analysis of BPMN vs CMMN", Business Process Management Journal, Vol. 27 No. 2, pp. 638-657. https://doi.org/10.1108/BPMJ-06-2020-0263