The effects of modular process models on gaze patterns - A follow-up investigation about modularization in process model literacy

Advanced organizational processes today require many process-relevant artifacts to be formally represented in process models. As these processes become more complex, process designers face the challenge of maintaining high comprehensibility while adequately visualizing process-relevant information. Modularization has been introduced to address the increasing complexity and information overload of process models, tackling this issue. While research acknowledges the importance of process model comprehensibility in order to benefit from the merits of such models, there still needs to be more clarity about the benefits of process model modularization. Recent research has focused on the human visual system and investigated visual behavior in the context of process model literacy. Continuing this branch of research, this paper analyses gaze behavior when comprehending modularized process models. A follow-up eye-tracking study was conducted to comprehend differently modularized BPMN 2.0 process models (i.e., vertical, horizontal, orthogonal). The results indicated that process model readers comprehend modularization approaches differently. Vertical modularization was perceived as the best comprehensible approach, whereas horizontal received the least acceptance. Considered eye movement performance measures confirm prior observation that attention is deployed more effectively in vertical modularization. Based upon the findings, the paper proposes a revised theoretical model from prior work that relates visual tasks to the execution of visual routines, explaining comprehension and information processing in modularized process models. The theoretical model elaborates how the visual system process and comprehends information obtained from modularized process models. Furthermore, the paper derived implications for modeling and practical applications, pointing out solid representational points and shortcomings of each modularization approach regarding how modularized process models are read and comprehended.