CODEWITHSUNDEEP
processdiagrambpmnbusiness-process-management
KM1234
KM1234

Reputation: 29

about BPMN: Two times the same actor in one process?

In BPMN is it allowed for me to use the same actor twice in a process scheme? As you can see in the example below, I'm using Actor A twice - is this acceptable?

Example of using Actor A twice

Upvotes: 1

Views: 1034

Answers (2)

Jarek Zelinski
Jarek Zelinski

Reputation: 177

Remember: BPMN have two type of diagram: descriptive/analytical and executable (see 2.2.1 BPMN Process Types). It is totally different context and meaning.

I hope you ask about analytical model. Your diagram shows Process A including two actors A and B, and Proces (remember pool means process not actor) named Actor A. 1. it is not a problem if two companies have actor e.g. Salesman, 2. it is a problem when you use word "actor" as a name of a process.

Upvotes: 0

Timotheus.Kampik
Timotheus.Kampik

Reputation: 2505

The BPMN 2.0 specification states that "[t]he meaning of the Lanes is up to the modeler" (page 305/page 335 in PDF). This means whatever you do with the semantics of your lanes is compliant with the spec. Consequently, you can have multiple lanes that depict the same actor in one process.

However, I don't recommend this, because it will confuse readers. Your specific example creates an additional problem: your process interacts with one and the same actor (Actor A) in two different ways (via a message flow, respectively via a sequence flow). This typically makes little sense. And if there is a reason for this, you should ask yourself if Actor A (lane) is really exactly the same as Actor A (pool). Perhaps the two elements stand for the same person (or group of persons), but for different roles? Then, the labels should clarify this. Also, in your example the use of pools is inconsistent: the label of the pool Process A specifies the process it contains, while the label of the pool Actor A specifies its actor.

Upvotes: 1

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