A Simple Algorithm for Automatic Layout of BPMN Processes

Badly and inconsistently layouted business processes are hard to read for humans and therefore lack comprehensibility. Furthermore, processes generated by software have no layout at all. If stakeholders cannot comprehend the process descriptions, they are unable to validate them and find mistakes. By offering a fully automatic layout algorithm for BPMN, it is possible to layout business processes in a consistent and clear way so that stakeholders can better and quicker comprehend the contents. This leads to better comprehensiblity and thus to better communication in BPM/SOA projects and allows for consistent process layouts throughout projects and enterprises - independent from the model source. In addition, this permits using generated models without manual layouting.