Process

A Process is an activity sequence of interrelated activities (tasks or sub-processes) that transforms inputs into outputs through a series of states to achieve specific outcomes.

• AKA: Processing Sequence, Task Chain, Activity Flow, Operation Sequence, Workflow.
• Context:
  • It can typically follow Process Steps through process state transitions.
  • It can typically consume Process Inputs through process input transformations.
  • It can typically produce Process Outputs through process outcome generations.
  • It can typically maintain Process States through process state management.
  • It can typically respond to Process Events through process event handling.
  • It can typically exhibit Process Behaviors through process execution patterns.
  • It can typically demonstrate Process Controls through process governance mechanisms.
  • It can typically involve Process Actors through process participation roles.
  • It can typically follow Process Rules through process constraint enforcement.
  • It can typically achieve Process Goals through process objective fulfillment.
  • ...
  • It can often require Process Resources through process resource utilization.
  • It can often generate Process Artifacts through process artifact creation.
  • It can often encounter Process Exceptions through process exception handling.
  • It can often provide Process Feedback through process feedback loops.
  • It can often involve Process Measurements through process metric collection.
  • It can often demonstrate Process Qualitys through process quality indicators.
  • It can often require Process Documentation through process specification records.
  • It can often exhibit Process Patterns through process recurring behaviors.
  • It can often enable Process Improvements through process optimization mechanisms.
  • It can often support Process Integrations through process interoperability interfaces.
  • ...
  • It can range from being a Natural Process to being an Artificial Process, depending on its process origin type.
  • It can range from being an Emergent Process to being a Designed Process, depending on its process development mode.
  • It can range from being a Deterministic Process to being a Stochastic Process, depending on its process outcome predictability.
  • It can range from being a Simple Process to being a Complex Process, depending on its process structural complexity.
  • It can range from being a Linear Process to being a Branching Process, depending on its process flow pattern.
  • It can range from being a Static Process to being an Adaptive Process, depending on its process change capability.
  • It can range from being a Standalone Process to being an Integrated Process, depending on its process system integration.
  • It can range from being a Manual Process to being an Automated Process, depending on its process automation level.
  • It can range from being a Repeatable Process to being an Unrepeatable Process, depending on its process repetition capability.
  • It can range from being an Observable Process to being an Unobservable Process, depending on its process observation possibility.
  • It can range from being a Discrete-Time Process to being a Continuous-Time Process, depending on its process time characteristic.
  • It can range from being a Short-Term Process to being a Long-Term Process, depending on its process duration scale.
  • It can range from being a High-Level Process to being an Operational Process, depending on its process abstraction level.
  • It can range from being a Sequential Process to being a Parallel Process, depending on its process execution model.
  • It can range from being a Synchronous Process to being an Asynchronous Process, depending on its process timing coordination.
  • It can range from being a Stable Process to being a Volatile Process, depending on its process variability degree.
  • It can range from being a Centralized Process to being a Distributed Process, depending on its process control structure.
  • It can range from being a Formal Process to being an Informal Process, depending on its process specification rigor.
  • ...
  • It can be represented with a Process Model for process visualization.
  • It can integrate with Process Management Systems for process control.
  • It can be analyzed through Process Mining for process insight discovery.
  • It can be optimized via Process Reengineering for process performance improvement.
  • It can be monitored using Process Metrics for process health assessment.
  • It can be documented in Process Specifications for process knowledge preservation.
  • It can be instantiated as Process Instances during process execution.
  • It can be composed into Process Hierarchies through process decomposition.
  • It can be validated through Process Verification for process correctness assurance.
  • It can be simulated using Process Simulation Tools for process behavior prediction.
  • ...
• Example(s):
  • Natural Processes, such as:
    • Physical Processes, such as:
      • Chemical Processes, such as:
        • Chemical Reaction for process substance transformation.
        • Oxidation Process for process electron transfer.
        • Crystallization Process for process solid formation.
      • Thermodynamic Processes, such as:
        • Heat Transfer Process for process energy exchange.
        • Phase Transition Process for process state change.
        • Combustion Process for process energy release.
    • Biological Processes, such as:
      • Cellular Processes, such as:
        • Cell Division Process for process organism growth.
        • Protein Synthesis Process for process molecule construction.
        • Cellular Respiration Process for process energy production.
      • Metabolic Processes, such as:
        • Photosynthesis Process for process energy conversion.
        • Digestion Process for process nutrient breakdown.
        • Biosynthesis Process for process compound creation.
    • Environmental Processes, such as:
      • Weather Processes for process atmospheric change.
      • Erosion Processes for process geological transformation.
      • Water Cycle Process for process hydrological circulation.
  • Organizational Processes, such as:
    • Business Processes, such as:
      • Operational Processes, such as:
        • Order Fulfillment Process for process customer service.
        • Manufacturing Process for process product creation.
        • Quality Control Process for process standard maintenance.
      • Administrative Processes, such as:
        • Hiring Process for process talent acquisition.
        • Budgeting Process for process financial planning.
        • Procurement Process for process resource acquisition.
    • Management Processes, such as:
      • Strategic Planning Process for process direction setting.
      • Performance Management Process for process goal achievement.
      • Risk Management Process for process uncertainty handling.
  • Designed Processes, such as:
    • Computing Processes, such as:
      • Data Processes, such as:
        • Data Processing for process information transformation.
        • Data Mining Process for process pattern discovery.
        • Data Integration Process for process information consolidation.
      • System Processes, such as:
        • Operating System Process for process task execution.
        • Batch Process for process job processing.
        • Real-Time Process for process immediate response.
      • Network Processes, such as:
        • Communication Process for process data transmission.
        • Routing Process for process path determination.
        • Protocol Process for process standard communication.
    • Engineering Processes, such as:
      • Design Processes for process solution development.
      • Testing Processes for process quality verification.
      • Deployment Processes for process system implementation.
  • Human Processes, such as:
    • Cognitive Processes, such as:
      • Learning Process for process knowledge acquisition.
      • Decision Process for process choice making.
      • Problem-Solving Process for process solution finding.
      • Memory Process for process information retention.
    • Social Processes, such as:
      • Communication Process for process information exchange.
      • Collaboration Process for process group work.
      • Negotiation Process for process agreement reaching.
      • Socialization Process for process cultural integration.
  • Legal Processes, such as:
    • Judicial Processes for process dispute resolution.
    • Legislative Processes for process law creation.
    • Due Process for process fairness assurance.
  • Scientific Processes, such as:
    • Research Processes for process knowledge discovery.
    • Experimental Processes for process hypothesis testing.
    • Peer Review Process for process quality validation.
  • Creative Processes, such as:
    • Artistic Processes for process aesthetic creation.
    • Innovation Processes for process novelty development.
    • Design Thinking Process for process solution ideation.
  • ...
• Counter-Example(s):
  • Entity, which exists as a static object rather than occurs as a process temporal sequence.
  • Event, which happens at a discrete point rather than over process extended duration.
  • State, which describes static condition rather than process dynamic transformation.
  • Resource, which enables process execution rather than executes process activity sequences.
  • Structure, which provides static organization rather than process dynamic flow.
  • Property, which represents static attributes rather than process temporal behaviors.
  • Snapshot, which captures single moment rather than process continuous progression.
• See: Workflow, Algorithm, Operation, Activity, Task, Procedure, System, Method, Protocol, Sequence, Pipeline, Mechanism, Function, Transformation.

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References

2024-12-27

• Perplexity.ai
  • Question: What is a Process in its broadest sense (including natural processes)? What are their definitions, classifications, and key attributes?
  • Answer: A process is a systematic sequence of interdependent activities that transform inputs into outputs through various states to achieve specific outcomes.
    • Core Characteristics:
      • Transformation Elements:
        • Clear inputs that undergo change.
        • Defined sequence of activities.
        • Measurable outputs and outcomes.
        • Resource utilization during execution.
        • State transitions throughout the process.
      • Control Aspects:
        • Start and end points.
        • Duration and timing parameters.
        • Performance metrics.
        • Quality indicators.
        • Scope boundaries.
    • Process Classifications:
      • Natural vs Artificial:
        • Natural processes occur spontaneously in nature (like chemical reactions and biological growth).
        • Artificial processes are designed by humans for specific purposes.
      • Based on Predictability:
        • Deterministic: Predictable outcomes under given conditions.
        • Stochastic: Random or probabilistic outcomes.
        • Adaptive: Can modify behavior based on conditions.
      • Based on Time Characteristics:
        • Discrete-time processes.
        • Continuous-time processes.
        • Short-term vs long-term processes.
    • Key Process Attributes:
      • Essential Properties:
        • Goal orientation.
        • Sequential progression.
        • Measurable performance.
        • Resource requirements.
        • Quality standards.
      • Operational Aspects:
        • Efficiency in execution.
        • Consistency in results.
        • Scalability potential.
    • Types of Processes:
      • Natural Processes:
        • Physical processes (heat transfer, chemical reactions).
        • Biological processes (cell division, photosynthesis).
        • Environmental processes (weather patterns, geological changes).
      • Organizational Processes:
        • Core operational processes.
        • Support processes.
        • Management processes.
        • Development processes.
  • Citations:

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Process_science
[2] https://old-ib.bioninja.com.au/standard-level/topic-5-evolution-and-biodi/53-classification-of-biodiv/classification.html
[3] https://www.bizmanualz.com/improve-business-processes/three-characteristics-of-a-process.html
[4] https://scribehow.com/library/types-of-business-processes
[5] https://www.codurance.com/publications/2017/08/11/an-interface-between-the-natural-and-the-artificial
[6] https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/process
[7] https://byjus.com/question-answer/differentiate-between-the-following-the-artificial-and-natural-systems-of-classification/
[8] http://www.taskmanagementguide.com/glossary/what-are-process-attributes-.php
[9] https://kissflow.com/workflow/bpm/business-process/
[10] https://www.processmodel.com/blog/what-is-a-process/

2016

• (Wikipedia, 2016) ⇒ http://wikipedia.org/wiki/process Retrieved:2016-4-4.
  • A process is a set of interrelated activities that interact to achieve a result, and simply known as "program in excitation".

    Process may refer to:

2009

• (WordNet, 2009) ⇒ http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=process
  • S: (n) procedure, process (a particular course of action intended to achieve a result) "the procedure of obtaining a driver's license"; "it was a process of trial and error"
  • S: (n) process, cognitive process, mental process, operation, cognitive operation ((psychology) the performance of some composite cognitive activity; an operation that affects mental contents) "the process of thinking"; "the cognitive operation of remembering"
  • S: (n) summons, process (a writ issued by authority of law; usually compels the defendant's attendance in a civil suit; failure to appear results in a default judgment against the defendant)
  • S: (n) process, unconscious process (a mental process that you are not directly aware of) "the process of denial"
  • S: (n) process, outgrowth, appendage (a natural prolongation or projection from a part of an organism either animal or plant) "a bony process"
  • S: (n) process, physical process (a sustained phenomenon or one marked by gradual changes through a series of states) "events now in process"; "the process of calcification begins later for boys than for girls"
  • S: (v) process, treat (subject to a process or treatment, with the aim of readying for some purpose, improving, or remedying a condition) "process cheese"; "process hair"; "treat the water so it can be drunk"; "treat the lawn with chemicals" ; "treat an oil spill"
  • S: (v) process (deal with in a routine way) "I'll handle that one"; "process a loan"; "process the applicants"
  • S: (v) process (perform mathematical and logical operations on (data) according to programmed instructions in order to obtain the required information) "The results of the elections were still being processed when he gave his acceptance speech"
  • S: (v) action, sue, litigate, process (institute legal proceedings against; file a suit against) "He was warned that the district attorney would process him"; "She actioned the company for discrimination"
  • S: (v) march, process (march in a procession) "They processed into the dining room"
  • S: (v) work, work on, process (shape, form, or improve a material) "work stone into tools"; "process iron"; "work the metal"
  • S: (v) serve, process, swear out (deliver a warrant or summons to someone) "He was processed by the sheriff"
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Process_(philosophy)
  • In philosophy and systems theory, basic processes, are unifying principles which operate in many different systemic contexts. For example, feedback is a principle that figures prominently in the science of cybernetics. Natural and industrial processes utilize basic processes such as feedback.
  • There is a philosophical system known as process philosophy, created by Alfred North Whitehead; related to this is process theology.
• http://sigma.ontologyportal.org:4010/sigma/Browse.jsp?lang=EnglishLanguage&kb=SUMO&term=Process
  • "Intuitively, the class of things that happen and have temporal parts or stages. Examples include extended events like a football match or a race, actions like Pursuing and Reading, and biological processes. The formal definition is: anything that lasts for a time but is not an Object. Note that a Process may have participants 'inside' it which are Objects, such as the players in a football match. In a 4D ontology, a Process is something whose spatiotemporal extent is thought of as dividing into temporal stages roughly perpendicular to the time-axis."
• Philip Lief Group. (2009). “Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition.
  • a process is a set or series of actions directed to some end or a natural series of changes; a procedure is a series of actions conducted in a certain manner, an established way of doing something
• http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/batch_process
  • Noun: Any process that is not continuous, but is carried out with a discrete amount of material

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