Business process change controller

1. A computer-implemented method for managing a transition between business process models, comprising:

in parallel with a first business process model, instantiating, using at least one hardware processor, a second business process model;

instantiating a temporary exit process step of a set of temporary exit process steps associated with the first business process model and a temporary entry process step of a set of temporary entry process steps associated with the second business process model;

wherein the temporary exit process step is interoperably coupled to the first business process model, the temporary exit process step is interoperably coupled to the temporary entry process step, and the temporary entry process step is interoperably coupled to the second business process model;

coupling an exit transition rule of a set of exit transition rules associated with the first business process model to the first business process model; and

activating the exit transition rule after activating the second business process model;

wherein the exit transition rule determines whether to execute the temporary exit process step.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the first business process model and the second business process model each define a set of process steps operable to perform a defined business process.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein each process step is linked to another process step by a process flow rule of a set of process flow rules.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the first business process model is executing before the instantiation of the second business process model.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the second business process model reuses at least one process step of the first business process model.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein activating the exit transition rule sets the state of the temporary exit process step to execute.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein, when the exit transition rule is activated, both the first business process model and the second business process model have associated process steps which are executed.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , further comprising deactivating the process flow rule between a first process step and a second process step of the first business process model when a determination indicates the second process step may no longer be executed.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , further comprising executing a deactivation method when no exit transition rule associated with the first business process model indicates that any process step associated with the first business process model may be executed, the deactivation method including:

deactivating the first business process model;

deactivating the temporary exit process step; and

deactivating the temporary entry process step.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , further comprising executing a deletion method following the completion of the deactivation method, the deletion method including:

deleting the first business process model;

deleting the temporary exit process step;

deleting the temporary entry process step; and

deleting the exit transition rule.

11. A computer program product for managing a transition between business-process models, the computer program product comprising computer-readable instructions embodied on tangible, non-transitory media, the instructions operable when executed to:

in parallel with a first business process model, instantiate, using at least one hardware processor, a second business process model;

instantiate a temporary exit process step of a set of temporary exit process steps associated with the first business process model and a temporary entry process step of a set of temporary entry process steps associated with the second business process model;

wherein the temporary exit process step is interoperably coupled to the first business process model, the temporary exit process step is interoperably coupled to the temporary entry process step, and the temporary entry process step is interoperably coupled to the second business process model;

couple an exit transition rule of a set of exit transition rules associated with the first business process model to the first business process model; and

activate the exit transition rule after activating the second business process model;

wherein the exit transition rule determines whether to execute the temporary exit process step.

12. The computer program product of claim 11 , wherein the first business process model and the second business process model each define a set of process steps operable to perform a defined business process.

13. The computer program product of claim 12 , wherein each process step is linked to another process step by a process flow rule of a set of process flow rules.

14. The computer program product of claim 11 , wherein the first business process model is executing before the instantiation of the second business process model.

15. The computer program product of claim 11 , wherein the second business process model reuses at least one process step of the first business process model.

16. The computer program product of claim 11 , wherein activating the exit transition rule sets the state of the temporary exit process step to execute.

17. The computer program product of claim 12 , wherein, when the exit transition rule is activated, both the first business process model and the second business process model have associated process steps which are executed.

18. The computer program product of claim 13 , the instructions further operable to deactivate the process flow rule between a first process step and a second process step of the first business process model when a determination indicates the second process step may no longer be executed.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 13 , further comprising executing a deactivation method when no exit transition rule associated with the first business process model indicates that any process step associated with the first business process model may be executed, the deactivation method including:

deactivate the first business process model;

deactivate the temporary exit process step; and

deactivate the temporary entry process step.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 19 , further comprising executing a deletion method following the completion of the deactivation method, the deletion method including:

delete the first business process model;

delete the temporary exit process step;

delete the temporary entry process step; and

delete the exit transition rule.

21. A system for managing a transition between business process models, comprising:

memory operable to store a first business process model and a second business process model; and

at least one hardware processor operable to:

in parallel with a first business process model, instantiate a second business process model;

instantiate a temporary exit process step of a set of temporary exit process steps associated with the first business process model and a temporary entry process step of a set of temporary entry process steps associated with the second business process model;

wherein the temporary exit process step is interoperably coupled to the first business process model, the temporary exit process step is interoperably coupled to the temporary entry process step, and the temporary entry process step is interoperably coupled to the second business process model;

couple an exit transition rule of a set of exit transition rules associated with the first business process model to the first business process model; and

activate the exit transition rule after activating the second business process model;

wherein the exit transition rule determines whether to execute the temporary exit process step.