Starting with a value chain means starting at the very top in the process hierarchy, often overarching functional domains and departmental silos. The next hierarchical layers can be used to depict strategies and the respective technical capabilities in order to optimize based on priorities set in strategy maps and KPIs in value chains.

At some point in the process hierarchy, we will find a level of granularity that is feasible to execute a BPMN-based process engine. Ideally, the executable process is based on the same model that is also used to depict the relevant aspects of the business. The IT model becomes a refinement of the business model. Another way to look at it is through the notion of a filter, so ideally, we have a business filter and an IT filter on the same process model. In real life, very often we maintain two distinct models, which impose the need to keep them in line if we want to maintain the notion of the business model...