Business Process Modeling and simulation

This paper investigates the development of simulation in relation to Business Process Modeling (BPM). Comparing the way discrete event simulation is used alongside BPM software as opposed to the more traditional use of simulation as a stand-alone technology more rooted within the Industrial Engineering and Operational (Operations) Research disciplines. The paper will compare the way simulation is supported within the two environments and propose how simulation for BPM can develop and become more successful. Particular focus will be placed on the way a business process is modeled and for what purpose the model is constructed. The topic of appropriate process data for simulation is not a major focus of this paper, although it is clearly a major topic in its own right. In this paper BPM is used as `shorthand´ for Business Process Modeling and not for Business Process Management which is its more popular contemporary usage.