There are two major types of business process models: Activity Models and Structure Models. Activity models are introduced in Chapter 4. Structure models (or data models) describe the information structure of the process. Both types of models implement business rules.

Structure Models

• Describe the data and information structures inherent in a business process.

• Create a blueprint for the development of a relational database to support the collection, aggregation, and communication of process information.

• Facilitate the use of databases after they are implemented.

Structure Models - Purposes

• Describe the entities or things in the domain of interest.

• Describe the relationships among those things.

• Specify how many instances of one entity can be related to another.

• Identify the attributes or characteristics of the entities and relationships.