Declarative versus imperative process modeling languages : the issue of understandability

D. Fahland; D. Lübke; J. Mendling; H.A. Reijers; B. Weber; M. Weidlich; S. Zugal

doi:10.1007/978-3-642-01862-6

Declarative versus imperative process modeling languages : the issue of understandability

D. Fahland, D. Lübke, J. Mendling, H.A. Reijers, B. Weber, M. Weidlich, S. Zugal

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › Academic › peer-review

118 Citations (SciVal)

Abstract

Advantages and shortcomings of different process modeling languages are heavily debated, both in academia and industry, but little evidence is presented to support judgements. With this paper we aim to contribute to a more rigorous, theoretical discussion of the topic by drawing a link to well-established research on program comprehension. In particular, we focus on imperative and declarative techniques of modeling a process. Cognitive research has demonstrated that imperative programs deliver sequential information much better while declarative programs offer clear insight into circumstantial information. In this paper we show that in principle this argument can be transferred to respective features of process modeling languages. Our contribution is a pair of propositions that are routed in the cognitive dimensions framework. In future research, we aim to challenge these propositions by an experiment.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Enterprise, Business-Process and Information Systems Modeling (10th International Workshop, BPMDS 2009, and 14th International Conference, EMMSAD 2009, held at CAiSE 2009, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, June 8-9, 2009. Proceedings)
Editors	T. Halpin, J. Krogstie, S. Nurcan, E. Proper, R. Schmidt, P. Soffer, R. Ukor
Place of Publication	Berlin
Publisher	Springer
Pages	353-366
ISBN (Print)	978-3-642-01861-9
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-01862-6
Publication status	Published - 2009
Event	14th International Conference on Exploring Modeling Methods for Systems Analysis and Design (EMMSAD 2009) - Amsterdam, Netherlands Duration: 8 Jun 2009 → 9 Jun 2009 Conference number: 14

Publication series

Name	Lecture Notes in Business Information Processing
Volume	29
ISSN (Print)	1865-1348

Workshop

Workshop	14th International Conference on Exploring Modeling Methods for Systems Analysis and Design (EMMSAD 2009)
Abbreviated title	EMMSAD '09
Country/Territory	Netherlands
City	Amsterdam
Period	8/06/09 → 9/06/09
Other	Workshop held in conjunction with the 21st International Conference on Advanced Information Systems Engineering (CAiSE '09)

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10.1007/978-3-642-01862-6

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Fahland, D., Lübke, D., Mendling, J., Reijers, H. A., Weber, B., Weidlich, M., & Zugal, S. (2009). Declarative versus imperative process modeling languages : the issue of understandability. In T. Halpin, J. Krogstie, S. Nurcan, E. Proper, R. Schmidt, P. Soffer, & R. Ukor (Eds.), Enterprise, Business-Process and Information Systems Modeling (10th International Workshop, BPMDS 2009, and 14th International Conference, EMMSAD 2009, held at CAiSE 2009, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, June 8-9, 2009. Proceedings) (pp. 353-366). (Lecture Notes in Business Information Processing; Vol. 29). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-01862-6

Fahland, D. ; Lübke, D. ; Mendling, J. et al. / Declarative versus imperative process modeling languages : the issue of understandability. Enterprise, Business-Process and Information Systems Modeling (10th International Workshop, BPMDS 2009, and 14th International Conference, EMMSAD 2009, held at CAiSE 2009, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, June 8-9, 2009. Proceedings). editor / T. Halpin ; J. Krogstie ; S. Nurcan ; E. Proper ; R. Schmidt ; P. Soffer ; R. Ukor. Berlin : Springer, 2009. pp. 353-366 (Lecture Notes in Business Information Processing).

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abstract = "Advantages and shortcomings of different process modeling languages are heavily debated, both in academia and industry, but little evidence is presented to support judgements. With this paper we aim to contribute to a more rigorous, theoretical discussion of the topic by drawing a link to well-established research on program comprehension. In particular, we focus on imperative and declarative techniques of modeling a process. Cognitive research has demonstrated that imperative programs deliver sequential information much better while declarative programs offer clear insight into circumstantial information. In this paper we show that in principle this argument can be transferred to respective features of process modeling languages. Our contribution is a pair of propositions that are routed in the cognitive dimensions framework. In future research, we aim to challenge these propositions by an experiment.",

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Fahland, D, Lübke, D, Mendling, J, Reijers, HA, Weber, B, Weidlich, M & Zugal, S 2009, Declarative versus imperative process modeling languages : the issue of understandability. in T Halpin, J Krogstie, S Nurcan, E Proper, R Schmidt, P Soffer & R Ukor (eds), Enterprise, Business-Process and Information Systems Modeling (10th International Workshop, BPMDS 2009, and 14th International Conference, EMMSAD 2009, held at CAiSE 2009, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, June 8-9, 2009. Proceedings). Lecture Notes in Business Information Processing, vol. 29, Springer, Berlin, pp. 353-366, 14th International Conference on Exploring Modeling Methods for Systems Analysis and Design (EMMSAD 2009), Amsterdam, Netherlands, 8/06/09. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-01862-6

Declarative versus imperative process modeling languages : the issue of understandability. / Fahland, D.; Lübke, D.; Mendling, J. et al.
Enterprise, Business-Process and Information Systems Modeling (10th International Workshop, BPMDS 2009, and 14th International Conference, EMMSAD 2009, held at CAiSE 2009, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, June 8-9, 2009. Proceedings). ed. / T. Halpin; J. Krogstie; S. Nurcan; E. Proper; R. Schmidt; P. Soffer; R. Ukor. Berlin: Springer, 2009. p. 353-366 (Lecture Notes in Business Information Processing; Vol. 29).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › Academic › peer-review

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AU - Zugal, S.

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AB - Advantages and shortcomings of different process modeling languages are heavily debated, both in academia and industry, but little evidence is presented to support judgements. With this paper we aim to contribute to a more rigorous, theoretical discussion of the topic by drawing a link to well-established research on program comprehension. In particular, we focus on imperative and declarative techniques of modeling a process. Cognitive research has demonstrated that imperative programs deliver sequential information much better while declarative programs offer clear insight into circumstantial information. In this paper we show that in principle this argument can be transferred to respective features of process modeling languages. Our contribution is a pair of propositions that are routed in the cognitive dimensions framework. In future research, we aim to challenge these propositions by an experiment.

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Fahland D, Lübke D, Mendling J, Reijers HA, Weber B, Weidlich M et al. Declarative versus imperative process modeling languages : the issue of understandability. In Halpin T, Krogstie J, Nurcan S, Proper E, Schmidt R, Soffer P, Ukor R, editors, Enterprise, Business-Process and Information Systems Modeling (10th International Workshop, BPMDS 2009, and 14th International Conference, EMMSAD 2009, held at CAiSE 2009, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, June 8-9, 2009. Proceedings). Berlin: Springer. 2009. p. 353-366. (Lecture Notes in Business Information Processing). doi: 10.1007/978-3-642-01862-6

Declarative versus imperative process modeling languages : the issue of understandability

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