Progressive refinement model for business processes

1. A method in a computer system 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, using a processor of the computer system, 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.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the first class of users represents business analysts; and

the first phase of the business process definition is a specification of the business process.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the second class of users represents software developers; and

the second phase of the business process definition is an implementation of the business process.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving business process data for a third phase of the business process definition from a third class of users;

augmenting the model of the business process based on the business process data received from the third class of users.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein:

the third class of users represents consultants familiar with requirements of a customer; and

the third phase of the business process definition is a customization of the business process.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

collecting execution statistics for the business process; and

presenting the execution statistics to at least one of the first and second classes of users to assist in refinement of the model.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the model of the business process includes a set of model elements and associations defining relationships between the model elements from the set.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

tracing model elements and associations for the first class of users and model elements and associations for the second class of users.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

preventing the first class of users from modifying model elements and associations for the second class of users; and

preventing the second class of users from modifying model elements and associations for the first class of users.

10. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

creating different usage patterns from a subset of model elements for different phases of model refinement.

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

providing multiple view points of the model to different classes of users.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving business process data for the second phase of the business process definition comprises:

receiving business process data for different execution targets from different users within the second class.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

tracing model elements and associations for different execution targets.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

providing multiple view points of the model for different execution targets.

15. 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.

16. The machine-readable medium of claim 15 wherein:

the first class of users represents business analysts;

the first phase of the business process definition is a specification of the business process;

the second class of users represents software developers; and

the second phase of the business process definition is an implementation of the business process.

17. The machine-readable medium of claim 15 wherein the method further comprises:

collecting execution statistics for the business process; and

presenting the execution statistics to at least one of the first and second classes of users to assist in refinement of the model.

18. The machine-readable medium of claim 15 wherein the model of the business process includes a set of model elements and associations defining relationships between the model elements from the set.

19. The machine-readable medium of claim 18 wherein the method further comprises:

tracing model elements and associations for the first class of users and model elements and associations for the second class of users.

20. 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.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein:

the first class of users represents business analysts;

the first phase of the business process definition is a specification of the business process;

the second class of users represents software developers; and

the second phase of the business process definition is an implementation of the business process.

22. The system of claim 20 wherein the set of instructions further cause the at least one processor to

collect execution statistics for the business process, and

present the execution statistics to at least one of the first and second classes of users to assist in refinement of the model.

23. 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.