Conceptual Foundation for Specifying Processes

A process is typically defined as a sequence of operations that transforms input into output. Process specification is an important constituent of building projects. To define, describe, and analyze processes is a laborious and difficult task. Current methodologies of process specification have many shortcomings and lack a conceptual foundation that conveys the essence of the notion of process. This paper applies a new method for specifying processes based on the notion of stages of flow. The viability of the method is demonstrated by contrasting it with various methodologies of process diagramming.