A simulation approach in process mining conformance analysis. the introduction of a brand new BPMN element

The computerization of organizational processes provides several tools for evaluating the quality of mapping. An executed process produces, in each instance, log files that can be used to reconstruct the actual procedure carried out by the system as well as to highlight deviations or "move" from the mapped path. These "moves" represent a loss that we consider unacceptable for organizations, which manifests its effects in various modes and weights. From this arises, in our view, the need for tools and logic approach to manage and limit the "conformance risk", including as well as a proper consideration and methodological evaluation of the same risk, but also practical solutions and mapping tools that might influence the occurrence. In this paper we propose a methodology and a simulation model of "Conformance Risk Aware Desing" in order to support the modeler in moving from a diagnostic to a preventive and design view of the conformance's matter. Purpose In this paper we have analyzed the Process Mining theme and give a new interpretation of the "conformance analysis" treating this issue not as an inevitable diagnostic phenomenon but as a real and necessary design parameter. This turning point is realized increasing the process mapping's quality through two main purposes. Our first purpose is the introduction of a brand new modeling elements in the world famous BPMN Modelling Notation with the implicit and objective meaning of "conformance controller" that indicates the need for the agent to communicate about the execution of the preceding task. The second part of the purpose pass through the systematic inclusion of a "conformance controller" pattern after each task whose deviation's risk assessment exceeds a certain threshold value. This methodological approach led to a stronger process design as for the task considered critical by the organization and to a lower need of process model repairing efforts and costs once that the process is released and log files are available. Design/methodology/approach In order to demonstrate the usefulness and value of our proposal we got served of a simulation based on the System Dynamic logic. We've modeled a human resource's behavior facing a number of task to perform under the influence and the documentation of a process model including both the "conformance controller" and the controller pattern. We used a combination of software including Matlab and Powersim Studio in order to getting results about a numeric estimation of the strength of the mapped task, basing our argument on the fuzzy logic rules and techniques, as for Matlab, and simulating hundred runs of a generic process in different operational scenarios, as for Powersim Studio. Collecting all the simulated data, we produced a series of statistical considerations about the effectiveness of the proposal and about the scenarios that increased its economical efficiency. Originality/value We open the discussion concerning the need by the organizations, increasingly constrained by regulatory guidelines and outside interests, of managing and preventing the risk of deviation from the process model especially regarding the critical and most added valued tasks, proposing a specific methodology. We also propose the integration of the BPMN Modelling Notation with a new implicit element and pattern to be used for the aim above. Another important aspect of the proposal is the building of a provisional model able to predict the impact of deviation from the mapped process using the defuzzyfication and implementable by every kind of organization that owns datasets about its processes.