Add sequence flows

In this lesson, you use sequence flows to connect the activities and events to establish the process flow in the Standard HR Open New Position BPD.

About this task

Now that activities and events are in the process model, you must provide the basic control and flow from these objects. This type of diagram communicates how the process flows from one activity to another and who completes these activities.

At this stage of the process model, it is necessary only to sequence the expected flow of the process from the start to the end events.

Note: If more than one sequence flow leaves the same flow object, the first one that you add is the default sequence flow. Subsequent sequence flows that originate from the same object are followed only under certain conditions. For an example, see the sequence flows that originate from the Submit job requisition activity.

Typically, you add process flow controls, which are known as gateways, when there is more than one flow out of an activity. In this lesson, you sequence only the activities and events. In the next lesson, you add the gateways.

This lesson introduces the following concepts:

Concept	Description
normal sequence flow	A plain arrow that indicates that the BPD progresses to the next step in the process as soon as the first step is completed.
conditional sequence flow	A plain arrow that indicates the conditional expressions that are evaluated to determine which path the flow is going to take. Conditional sequence flows are followed only when the conditions are met.
default sequence flow	A plain arrow with a back slash at the beginning of the flow line. A default sequence flow is required and is automatically created when there is a conditional sequence flow. The default sequence flow indicates a processing path to follow when none of the conditions on the conditional sequence flows are true. The default sequence flow ensures that there is at least one processing path (the default path) for the business process to follow.

Add sequence flows:

1. Make sure that the Standard HR Open New Position process is open and the Diagram tab is selected.
2. Select the Sequence Flow tool in the palette.
   Tip: The Sequence Flow tool remains active so that you can connect all of your activities and events quickly. To deactivate the Sequence Flow tool, select the Selection Tool or press Esc.
3. In the process diagram, move your mouse to the Start event and click a selection point to place the beginning of the flow arrow.
4. Move your mouse to a selection point on the Submit job requisition activity and click again.
   
5. Connect the Submit job requisition activity to the Find job candidates activity and then to the Approve or reject requisition activity.
   Notice that the flow line that goes to the Find job candidates activity is marked as the default flow line.

   Tips:

   • If more than one sequence flow leaves the same flow object, the first one that you add is the default sequence flow.
   • If your sequence is incorrect and you have the wrong default line, delete all the sequence flow lines from the activity and redo them.
   • To straighten flow lines, you can realign an activity or event on the diagram by selecting it and holding down Ctrl press the arrow keys.
   
6. Connect the Find job candidates activity to the End event.
7. Connect the Approve or reject requisition activity to the Notify hiring manager activity and to the Find job candidates activity.
8. Connect the Notify hiring manager activity to the End event.
   
9. Click the Selection Tool in the palette or press Esc to return to the normal selection mode in the process diagram.
10. Save your work.