Behavioural Models: From Modelling Finite Automata to Analysing Business Processes

Matthias Kunze, Mathias Weske: Behavioural Models: From Modelling Finite Automata to Analysing Business Processes, XI, 282 p. 177 illus. Hardcover ISBN 978-3-319-44958-6, eBook ISBN 978-3-319-44960-9, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-44960-9. ©Springer International Publishing, Switzerland, 2016

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A Note

We have finalized a book on behavioural models; you can already pre-order it at Springer and Amazon. If you have any comments, please drop a note to the second author at mathias dot weske at hpi.de.

Thanks and happy reading, Matthias Kunze and Mathias Weske

Potsdam, September 2016

Back Cover Text

This textbook introduces the basis for modelling and analysing discrete dynamic systems, such as computer programmes, soft- and hardware systems, and business processes. The underlying concepts are introduced and concrete modelling techniques are described, such as finite automata, state machines, and Petri nets. The concepts are related to concrete application scenarios, among which business processes play a prominent role.

The book consists of three parts, the first of which addresses the foundations of behavioural modelling. After a general introduction to modelling, it introduces transition systems as a basic formalism for representing the behaviour of discrete dynamic systems. This section also discusses causality, a fundamental concept for modelling and reasoning about behaviour. In turn, Part II forms the heart of the book and is devoted to models of behaviour. It details both sequential and concurrent systems and introduces finite automata, state machines and several different types of Petri nets. One chapter is especially devoted to business process models, workflow patterns and BPMN, the industry standard for modelling business processes. Lastly, Part III investigates how the behaviour of systems can be analysed. To this end, it introduces readers to the concept of state spaces. Further chapters cover the comparison of behaviour and the formal analysis and verification of behavioural models.

The book was written for students of computer science and software engineering, as well as for programmers and system analysts interested in the behaviour of the systems they work on. It takes readers on a journey from the fundamentals of behavioural modelling to advanced techniques for modelling and analysing sequential and concurrent systems, and thus provides them a deep understanding of the concepts and techniques introduced and how they can be applied to concrete application scenarios.

Endorsement

• The authors have done an excellent job in writing a textbook with the potential of becoming an important contribution to modelling computerized systems of all kinds.

  • Professor David Harel, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Vice President of the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities

• Various types of behavioural models play an important role in computer science, system development and business process management. Often, these models have been presented separately, which made it difficult for students and analysts to understand their connections. This book is unique in filling this gap by providing an integrated perspective on such diverse topics as transition systems, automata, state machines, Petri nets, BPMN, and temporal logic. It is therefore a must read for all interested in modelling behaviour and analysing business processes.

  • Prof. Dr. Jan Mendling, Vienna University of Economics and Business

• The book by Kunze and Weske provides a valuable in-depth overview of modelling in the digital era. It will thus be helpful for practitioners to understand the core assets as well as for students who get an easy accessible, yet formally grounded overview of behavioural modelling techniques and their analysis forms.

  • from the foreword by Prof. Dr. Bernhard Rumpe, RWTH Aachen University