The Difference Between BPM and Workflow

BPM and Workflow are in fact two distinct and separate entities whose differences are more than academic.

Workflow is concerned with the application-specific sequencing of activities via predefined instruction sets, involving either or both automated procedures (software-based) and manual activities (people work).

BPM is concerned with the definition, execution and management of business processes defined independently of any single application. BPM is a superset of workflow, further differentiated by the ability to coordinate activities across multiple applications with fine grain control.

Integration between workflow systems and externalities are comparatively limited, often only allowing the retrieval of documents or data variables and only as a pass-through with no awareness of content.

BPM systems allow both the capture and introspection of external documents and data, presenting a closed-loop process for validating the integrity of transactions, data and content, as well as the initiation of compensating activities when necessary. BPM processes separate execution instructions from process flows; thus, routing can be tied to process outcomes and milestones.

As workflow processes are tied to single applications, process flow is hardwired and does accommodate alternative means for reaching the same task or goal.

You may look at this subject this way:

Workflow is a photograph of your business, BPM is a videograph.
Workflow picture is a more static. There is only so much you can do with a hard copy printout. But with a video file - You can do a lot - eg. editing, voicing, etc.

It gives you more control over your business. The focus one time was automating a particular piece of business by writing software applications. The focus still remains the same - only evolved - How you can leverage new technologies like XML, SOA, Web Services, open architectures, etc in a global marketplace? The focus now is - how you can effectively integrate information, people, raw materials which can reduce cost and improve quality and be competitive at a global level.

So BPM is this big new way of thinking - Get a blue print of your business, architect in way that it can exploit new technologies, provide easy mechanisms to identify bottlenecks and improve your bottom line.

Workflow (Scenario) - Let us get a picture of your business and I will study it and then we will discuss alternate solutions, and then I am gone.

BPM (Scenario) - Let us get a video of your business, and you will get an ability to identify bottlenecks & change your business dynamically with minimum impact.

In a large enterprise - Workflow is often information about a particular 'island' of operation within an enterprise. Whereas BPM will be information about your entire business and provides mechanisms on how you can effectively run it.