CMMN Case management model and notation header

Case management model and notation (CMMN)

Case Management Model and Notation (CMMN) is a standard developed by the Object Management Group (OMG). CMMN integrates with established standards like BPMN (Business Process Model and Notation) and DMN (Decision Model and Notation) to provide a comprehensive model for representing case management activities that involve complex, unpredictable, and intertwined processes.

Adoption of CMMN provides organizations with a robust framework for managing complex cases, enhancing their ability to adapt and respond effectively to dynamic conditions.

CMMN's role and strengths

Visual modeling

CMMN offers a visual modeling language that makes it straightforward for business analysts and IT professionals to collaborate when designing and implementing case management solutions.

Handling unpredictability

CMMN handles the unpredictability inherent in many modern business scenarios, accommodating deviations from the planned process as new information becomes available or situations evolve. Often, those cannot be managed effectively managed using BPMN.

Handling complex scenarios at a higher level

CMMN works at the top level of automation solutions, providing a flexible framework to handle events, while lower-level actions can be modeled in BPMN for clarity and execution.

Integrates with BPMN

In practice, CMMN is often used together with BPMN. CMMN handles the high-level, flexible, and event-driven parts of a process, while BPMN manages the detailed, structured tasks, often mixing automated services with human interactions.

Human-centric processes

CMMN supports processes that require significant human judgment and interaction, ensuring case management focuses on outcomes rather than following a rigid sequence of steps. CMMN is ideal for cases where human decision-making is central and tasks need to be chosen based on evolving circumstances, offering more adaptability compared to BPMN.

Event-driven flexibility

CMMN emphasizes event-triggered behavior and ad hoc decision-making by knowledge workers, allowing flexibility in how processes evolve over time

Dynamic process handling

Instead of following a strict flowchart as in BPMN, CMMN uses stages (states) that contain tasks and actions. Tasks may or must be performed to transition between stages, allowing for dynamic process handling.

Use case:Banking and Financial Services (FSI) loan origination and credit approval processes

Loan origination involves assessing various customer data points, including credit history, current financial status, and risk assessment.

Workflows need to reflect different phases of the loan process, such as initial application review, detailed risk assessment, and final approval. Tasks like credit checks or document verification can be manual or automated, with discretionary tasks added as needed based on specific customer profiles.

CMMN facilitates the management of these multifaceted criteria by allowing case workers to adjust processes as new financial information or regulations come to light.

Bank Julius Baer achieves enterprise-wide efficiency with CMMN

Use case: Insurance claims processing

The processing of claims in insurance can vary significantly from one case to another depending on the nature of the claim, the policy details, and external factors like legal requirements.

Real-time events, such as receiving additional documentation from the claimant or updates from an assessor, trigger changes in case status. Milestones are required to mark significant points in the claim process, like claim verification or payment authorization. CMMN excels in managing these variations by providing a structured yet flexible approach.

Insurance company speeds up claim resolution by 25%

Further CMMN reads

Flowable’s CMMN in action, part one – managing an insurance claim case

Managing an insurance claim requires both human intervention and system processing.

Join us for a webinar that will reshape how you tackle complexity within your organization.

On-demand webinar: Low-code, high impact - Flowable & CMMN for complex cases

See how CMMN can efficiently handle complaints, orders, and special offers - all within the customer journey.

CMMN eBook: In search of the optimal workflow

Flowable's innovative adaptive case management capabilities help you structure your demanding, unstructured, and dynamically changing business processes.