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Business Process Simulation Survival Guide

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Handbook on Business Process Management 1

Part of the book series: International Handbooks on Information Systems ((INFOSYS))

Abstract

Simulation provides a flexible approach to analyzing business processes. Through simulation experiments various “what if” questions can be answered and redesign alternatives can be compared with respect to key performance indicators. This chapter introduces simulation as an analysis tool for business process management. After describing the characteristics of business simulation models, the phases of a simulation project, the generation of random variables, and the analysis of simulation results, we discuss 15 risks, i.e., potential pitfalls jeopardizing the correctness and value of business process simulation. For example, the behavior of resources is often modeled in a rather naïve manner resulting in unreliable simulation models. Whereas traditional simulation approaches rely on hand-made models, we advocate the use of process mining techniques for creating more reliable simulation models based on real event data. Moreover, simulation can be turned into a powerful tool for operational decision making by using real-time process data.

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Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank Joyce Nakatumba, Marc Voorhoeve, Anne Rozinat, Ronny Mans, Hajo Reijers, Michael Westergaard, and Mariska Netjes for their joint work on business process simulation. This work was supported by the Basic Research Program of the National Research University Higher School of Economics (HSE).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Eindhoven University of Technology, 513, Eindhoven, MB, NL-5600, The Netherlands

    Wil M. P. van der Aalst

  2. Business Process Management Discipline, Queensland University of Technology, GPO Box 2434, Brisbane, QLD, 4001, Australia

    Wil M. P. van der Aalst

  3. International Laboratory of Process-Aware Information Systems, National Research University Higher School of Economics, 33 Kirpichnaya Street, Moscow, Russia

    Wil M. P. van der Aalst

Authors
  1. Wil M. P. van der Aalst
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Correspondence to Wil M. P. van der Aalst .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Information Systems, University of Liechtenstein, Vaduz, Liechtenstein

    Jan vom Brocke

  2. School of Information Systems, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

    Michael Rosemann

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van der Aalst, W.M.P. (2015). Business Process Simulation Survival Guide. In: vom Brocke, J., Rosemann, M. (eds) Handbook on Business Process Management 1. International Handbooks on Information Systems. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-45100-3_15

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