Understanding of Business Process Models

Purpose of the research

The aim of this research is to develop an understanding of the factors that contribute to the understandability of business process models. This study is being conducted as part of a research project at the Business Process Management cluster at Queensland University of Technology in collaboration with the Technical University Eindhoven and the Humboldt University Berlin .

Participation and procedures

The data collection will be conducted through a Web-based questionnaire instrument, which has been designed for EPC users, which means that anyone that uses EPCs to create process models for whatever purpose is welcome and encouraged to participate.

Participation in this study is purely voluntary. If you do agree to participate, you can withdraw from participation at any time during the project without comment or penalty. Your decision to participate or withdraw will in no way impact upon your current or future relationship with the universities involved.

Your participation in this study will consist of completing the questions listed on the following web pages, which will take about thirty (30) minutes.

Expected benefits and participation rewards

Your participation in this study is expected to lead to improvements in EPCs, which will potentially increase the ease with which you are able to complete your modelling tasks in the future.

As a token of appreciation for your valuable time and assistance, you will receive summarized results of this study, should you choose this option after completing the questionnaire.

Also, we would like to offer you the chance to win one of three free copies of the textbook shown below. If you want to participate in the draw for the book, please provide your contact details after completing the questionnaire.

Metrics for Process Models

Jan Mendling

Confidentiality and risks

All data, comments and responses from this survey will be treated and stored strictly confidential and anonymous. The names of individual persons or organizations are not required in any of the responses. You and your position will not be identified from any outcomes of this study. You will not be asked to disclose any confidential or sensitive information about you or the organization you may be affiliated with. Potential identifying information of yours will be used only for the purpose of providing you with a summary of results should you choose this option. All responses will be stored electronically without reference to names of individual persons. There are no risks associated with your participation in this study.

Instructions and guidelines for completing the questionnaire

Work as quickly as you can from the front of the questionnaire to the back.
You must answer all questions in order to proceed unless stated otherwise.
To amend an answer, simply click on the desired answer to erase the previous selection.
In answering the questions within the questionnaire, please provide responses only based on your own perceptions or beliefs.
Please remember that your answers are anonymous and answer each question honestly.

Questions and further information

QUT is committed to researcher integrity and the ethical conduct of research projects. However, if you do have any concerns or complaints about the ethical conduct of the project you may contact the QUT Research Ethics Officer at telephone number +61 (07) 3138 2340 or email ethicscontact@qut.edu.au. The Researcher Ethics Officer is not connected with the research project and can facilitate a resolution to your concern in an impartial manner.

You may ask any questions concerning this research and have those questions at any time before, during of after you agreed to participate. Also, should you encounter any difficulties in responding, or if you would like to obtain additional information or have any queries, you may contact Dr Jan Recker (chief investigator) at telephone number +61 (07) 3138 9479 or email j.recker@qut.edu.au.

Consent

By clicking the “I agree to participate” button below, you are voluntarily making the decision to participate in this study and you are indicating that you:

have read and understood the information about this project;
have had any questions answered to your satisfaction;
understand that if you have any additional questions you can contact the Chief Investigator;
understand that you are free to withdraw at any time, without comment or penalty;
understand that you can contact the research team if you have any questions about the project, or the Research Ethics Officer if you have concerns about the ethical conduct of the project.