Enhancing Business Process Management With Simulation Optimization

A growing number of business process management software vendors are offering simulation capabilities to extend their modeling functions and enhance their analytical proficiencies. Simulation is positioned as a means to evaluate the impact of process changes and new processes in a model environment through the creation of “what-if” scenarios. Simulation is promoted to enable examination and testing of decisions prior to actually making them in the “real” environment. Since simulation approximates reality, it also permits the inclusion of uncertainty and variability into the forecasts of process performance. This paper explores how new approaches are significantly expanding the power of simulation for business process management.