Why Use Enactable Models of Construction Processes?

Abstract

Construction is a process-based industry. In such an industry it is important to have a clear understanding of the process. One way to achieve this is by the use of a process model. In a European Community funded research project the business process of a small U.K. construction company was modeled and analyzed. Both visual modeling and enactable modeling techniques were used in this exercise. This paper aims to show how process understanding can be better achieved by a combination of visual models and enactable models. This is supported by examples from the construction company process studied. The tools and techniques used in this exercise are those developed by the collaborators of the project. The visual modeling is done using ProcessWise WorkBench and Role Activity Diagrams. The view of the business process given by the ProcessWise WorkBench models is predominantly process based, whereas Role Activity Diagrams provide a role based view of the process. The enactable modeling is done using RolEnact, a modeling tool that enacts formal specifications of processes.