Analysis of resource-constrained processes with colored petri nets

Formal models of business processes support the performance analysis of processes and the evaluation of redesign alternatives. This paper presents a formal model to analyze the behavior of resource-constrained processes. The model is developed using Colored Petri Nets (CPN or CP nets) and the supporting software package CPN Tools. In our approach, a business process consists of tasks and resources able to perform one or more tasks in the process. We developed a task building block to model tasks and a resource module to model the allocation of resources with different allocation methods. The opening of a bank account is used as an example process to investigate two so-called "best practices" while using the simulation facility of CPN Tools. First, we explore the specialist-generalist trade-off, i.e., finding the optimal ratio of specialists and generalists. Then we explore the flexible assignment policy, i.e., a strategy to deploy specialists first to preserve operational flexibility.