thumb|right|320px|Abstraction level for processes.
Meta-process modeling is a type of metamodeling used in software engineering and systems engineering for the analysis and construction of models applicable and useful to some predefined problems.
Meta-process modeling supports the effort of creating flexible process models. The purpose of process models is to document and communicate processes and to enhance the reuse of processes. Thus, processes can be better taught and executed. Results of using meta-process models are an increased productivity of process engineers and an improved quality of the models they produce. This is important due to the fact that "processes change with time and so do the process models underlying them. Thus, new processes and models may have to be built and existing ones improved".
A process meta-model is a meta model, "a description at the type level of a process model. A process model is, thus, an instantiation of a process meta-model. [..] A meta-model can be instantiated several times in order to define various process models. A process meta-model is at the meta-type level with respect to a process.")
- Using the notion of descriptors as a means to describe process chunks. This eases the retrieval of components meeting the requirements of the user / matching with the situation at hand. (Example Plihon 1995 in NATURE)
For the assembly technique to be successful, it is necessary that process models are modular. If the assembly technique is combined with the instantiation technique then the meta-model must itself be modular. Rolland 1993, and Rolland 1996. The process engineer must define the instances of contexts and relationships that comprise the process model of interest." Oikos, and PEACE
- Rule based paradigm in MERLIN
- ALF
- Marvel
- EPOS and MVP-L.
Example tools for meta-process modeling are:
- Maestro II
Besides the CREWS-L'Ecritoire approach, the multi-model view has served as a basis for representing: SAVRE approach for scenario exceptions discovery, and the scenario animation approach
:(b) for integrating approaches one with the other and with the OOSE approach
Furthermore, the CREWS-L'Ecritoire utilizes process models and meta-process models in order to achieve flexibility for the situation at hand. The approach is based on the notion of a labelled graph of intentions and strategies called a map as well as its associated guidelines. The description of the guidelines is based on the NATURE project's contextual approach and its corresponding enactment mechanism.