Business process modeling using a question and answer system

1. A method for creating a business process model using a question and answer (Q and A) system, the method comprising:

modifying, by an application executing in one or more processors, a business process modeling (BPM) tool, wherein the BPM tool comprises a software application that is configured to produce a model output in a specific modeling language using a set of standard process models, a modification comprising enabling the BPM tool to produce the business process model using new instructions corresponding to natural language answers from the Q and A system, the new instructions being distinct from the standard process models, the modification comprising:

receiving a request to create the business process model of a business process;

converting, by the application executing in the one or more processors, a document in user domain data into a natural language (NL) document, wherein the user domain data comprises a combination of unstructured documents and structured documents related to an operation in a user domain;

constructing, by the application executing in the one or more processors, a knowledgebase by adding the NL document in an ontology representation of the knowledgebase, and by adding to the ontology a business process modeling (BPM) data;

detecting, by the application executing in the one or more processors, a set of relationships, descriptions, labels, and process elements from the knowledgebase;

transforming, by the application executing in the one or more processors, the request into an NL question;

parsing, in the Q and A system using the BPM data, the NL question into an ontology-triple of entities participating in an activity in the NL question;

forming, by the application executing in the one or more processors, a set of frame cuts, each frame cut comprising a relationship of entities in a step of the activity;

computing a set of answers from the Q and A system responsive to the NL question, an answer in the set of answers identifying a portion of the knowledgebase where a relationship of entities is found;

receiving, associated with each answer in the set of answers, a set of evidence from the knowledgebase, wherein a first set of evidence associated with a first answer in the set of answers supports the first answer;

receiving, associated with each answer in the set of answers, a confidence rating, wherein a first confidence rating associated with the first answer indicates a probability that the first answer is correct in view of the first set of evidence for modeling the business process;

selecting, by the application executing in the one or more processors, the answer from the set of answers using a confidence rating associated with the answer, wherein the confidence rating exceeds a threshold level of confidence;

constructing, by the application executing in the one or more processors, a set of instructions using the answer, the set of instructions being a part of the new instructions; and

sending the set of instructions to a BPM tool, wherein the set of instructions are executable by the BPM tool to automate a construction of the model.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying a first component, a second component, and a relationship between the first and the second components in a business process flow; enabling, responsive to the identifying, a user to construct the business process model.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the BPM tool provides the BPM data, and wherein the unstructured data comprises an email communication.

4. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein the NL document is usable for answering a natural language question pertaining to BPM subject matter domain.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the request is in a form other than natural language statement.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the business process is a part of a second business process.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the request to create the business process model comprises a request to validate a business process.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the request to create the business process model comprises a request to modify an existing business process.

9. A non-transitory computer usable program product comprising a computer usable storage device including computer usable code for creating a business process model using a question and answer (Q and A) system, the computer usable code comprising:

computer usable code for modifying, by an application executing in one or more processors, a business process modeling (BPM) tool, wherein the BPM tool comprises a software application that is configured to produce a model output in a specific modeling language using a set of standard process models, a modification comprising enabling the BPM tool to produce the business process model using new instructions corresponding to natural language answers from the Q and A system, the new instructions being distinct from the standard process models, the modification comprising:

computer usable code for receiving a request to create the business process model of a business process;

computer usable code for converting, by the application executing in the one or more processors, a document in user domain data into a natural language (NL) document, wherein the user domain data comprises a combination of unstructured documents and structured documents related to an operation in a user domain;

computer usable code for constructing, by the application executing in the one or more processors, a knowledgebase by adding the NL document in an ontology representation of the knowledgebase, and by adding to the ontology a business process modeling (BPM) data;

computer usable code for detecting, by the application executing in the one or more processors, a set of relationships, descriptions, labels, and process elements from the knowledgebase;

computer usable code for transforming, by the application executing in the one or more processors, the request into an NL question;

computer usable code for parsing, in the Q and A system using the BPM data, the NL question into an ontology-triple of entities participating in an activity in the NL question;

computer usable code for forming, by the application executing in the one or more processors, a set of frame cuts, each frame cut comprising a relationship of entities in a step of the activity;

computer usable code for computing a set of answers from the Q and A system responsive to the NL question, an answer in the set of answers identifying a portion of the knowledgebase where a relationship of entities is found;

computer usable code for receiving, associated with each answer in the set of answers, a set of evidence from the knowledgebase, wherein a first set of evidence associated with a first answer in the set of answers supports the first answer;

computer usable code for receiving, associated with each answer in the set of answers, a confidence rating, wherein a first confidence rating associated with the first answer indicates a probability that the first answer is correct in view of the first set of evidence for modeling the business process;

computer usable code for selecting, by the application executing in the one or more processors, the answer from the set of answers using a confidence rating associated with the answer, wherein the confidence rating exceeds a threshold level of confidence;

computer usable code for constructing, by the application executing in the one or more processors, a set of instructions using the answer, the set of instructions being a part of the new instructions; and

computer usable code for sending the set of instructions to a BPM tool, wherein the set of instructions are executable by the BPM tool to automate a construction of the model.

10. The computer usable program product of claim 9 , further comprising:

computer usable code for identifying a first component, a second component, and a relationship between the first and the second components in a business process flow; enabling, responsive to the identifying, a user to construct the business process model.

11. The computer usable program product of claim 9 , wherein the BPM tool provides the BPM data, and wherein the unstructured data comprises an email communication.

12. The computer usable program product of claim 9 , wherein the computer usable code is stored in a computer readable storage medium in a data processing system, and wherein the computer usable code is transferred over a network from a remote data processing system.

13. The computer usable program product of claim 9 , wherein the computer usable code is stored in a computer readable storage medium in a server data processing system, and wherein the computer usable code is downloaded over a network to a remote data processing system for use in a computer readable storage medium associated with the remote data processing system.

14. A data processing system for creating a business process model using a question and answer (Q and A) system, the data processing system comprising:

a storage device including a storage medium, wherein the storage device stores computer usable program code; and

a processor, wherein the processor executes the computer usable program code, and wherein the computer usable program code comprises:

computer usable code for modifying, by an application, a business process modeling (BPM) tool, wherein the BPM tool comprises a software application that is configured to produce a model output in a specific modeling language using a set of standard process models, a modification comprising enabling the BPM tool to produce the business process model using new instructions corresponding to natural language answers from the Q and A system, the new instructions being distinct from the standard process models, the modification comprising:

computer usable code for receiving a request to create the business process model of a business process;

computer usable code for converting, by the application, a document in user domain data into a natural language (NL) document, wherein the user domain data comprises a combination of unstructured documents and structured documents related to an operation in a user domain;

computer usable code for constructing, by the application, a knowledgebase by adding the NL document in an ontology representation of the knowledgebase, and by adding to the ontology a business process modeling (BPM) data;

computer usable code for detecting, by the application, a set of relationships, descriptions, labels, and process elements from the knowledgebase;

computer usable code for transforming, by the application, the request into an NL question;

computer usable code for parsing, in the Q and A system using the BPM data, the NL question into an ontology-triple of entities participating in an activity in the NL question;

computer usable code for forming, by the application, a set of frame cuts, each frame cut comprising a relationship of entities in a step of the activity;

computer usable code for computing a set of answers from the Q and A system responsive to the NL question, an answer in the set of answers identifying a portion of the knowledgebase where a relationship of entities is found;

computer usable code for receiving, associated with each answer in the set of answers, a set of evidence from the knowledgebase, wherein a first set of evidence associated with a first answer in the set of answers supports the first answer;

computer usable code for receiving, associated with each answer in the set of answers, a confidence rating, wherein a first confidence rating associated with the first answer indicates a probability that the first answer is correct in view of the first set of evidence for modeling the business process;

computer usable code for selecting, by the application, the answer from the set of answers using a confidence rating associated with the answer, wherein the confidence rating exceeds a threshold level of confidence;

computer usable code for constructing, by the application, a set of instructions using the answer, the set of instructions being a part of the new instructions; and

computer usable code for sending the set of instructions to a BPM tool, wherein the set of instructions are executable by the BPM tool to automate a construction of the model.