Progressive refinement model for business processes

A machine-readable medium having executable instructions to cause a machine to perform a method comprising:

• establishing a first class of users, wherein the first class of users corresponds to a first phase of a business process definition;
• establishing a second class of users, wherein
• the second class of users corresponds to a second phase of the business process definition;
• exposing only a subset of details of the business process definition to the first class of users, wherein
• the subset of details is part of the first phase, and
• the subset of details is limited to details of the business process definition specific to the first phase;
• excluding the second class of users from exposure to the subset of details;
• receiving business process data for the first phase from the first class of users;
• creating a model of a business process using the business process data received from the first class of users;
• receiving business process data for the second phase from the second class of users;
• augmenting the model of the business process based on the business process data received from the second class of users;
• and
• iteratively refining the model of the business process in response to input provided by at least one of the first class of users and the second class of users.

A system comprising:

• a memory;
• and
• at least one processor coupled to the memory, the at least one processor executing a set of instructions which cause the at least one processor to:
• establish a first class of users, wherein
• the first class of users corresponds to a first phase of a business process definition;
• establish a second class of users, wherein
• the second class of users corresponds to a second phase of the business process definition;
• expose only a subset of details of the business process definition to the first class of users, wherein
• the subset of details is part of the first phase, and
• the subset of details is limited to details of the business process definition specific to the first phase;
• exclude the second class of users from exposure to the subset of details;
• receive business process data for the first phase from the first class of users,
• create a model of a business process using the business process data received from the first class of users,
• receive business process data for the second phase from the second class of users,
• augment the model of the business process based on the business process data received from the second class of users, and
• iteratively refine the model of the business process in response to input provided by at least one of the first class of users and the second class of users.

A computer-implemented apparatus comprising:

• means for establishing a first class of users, wherein
• the first class of users corresponds to a first phase of a business process definition;
• means for establishing a second class of users, wherein
• the second class of users corresponds to a second phase of the business process definition;
• means for exposing only a subset of details of the business process definition to the first class of users, wherein
• the subset of details is part of the flat phase, and
• the subset of details is limited to details of the business process definition specific to the first phase;
• means for excluding the second class of users from exposure to the subset of details;
• means for receiving business process data for the first phase from the first class of users;
• means for creating a model of a business process using the business process data received from the first class of users;
• means for receiving business process data for the second phase from the second class of users;
• means for augmenting the model of the business process based on the business process data received from the second class of users;
• and
• means for iteratively refining the model of the business process in response to input provided by at least one of the first class of users and the second class of users.