Requirements Elicitation Using BPM Notations: Focusing on the Strategic Level Representation

Business process models (BPM) can be useful for requirements elicitation, among other uses. Since the active participation of all stakeholders is a key factor for successful requirements engineering, it is important that BPM be shared by all stakeholders. Unfortunately, organizations may end up with inconsistent BPM not covering all stakeholders’ needs and constraints. The use of multiple levels of abstraction (MLA), such as at the strategic, tactical and operational levels, is often used in various process-oriented initiatives to facilitate the consolidation of various stakeholders’ needs and constraints. This article surveys the use of MLA in recent BPM research publications and reports on a BPM action-research case study conducted in a Canadian organization, with the aim of exploring the usefulness of the strategic level. Key-Words: Business process modeling, levels of abstraction, requirements elicitation, case study, action research