---
title: "Presenting the Process Hierarchy with Process Maps"
description: >-
  The process hierarchy is preferably displayed using process maps that depict
  how processes are grouped within a level.
search:
  tags:
    - konzept
    - prozesshierarchie
    - prozesslandkarte
    - darstellen
---
The process hierarchy is preferably displayed using **process maps** that depict how processes are grouped within a level.

## What is the process hierarchy for? [#wozu-dient-die-prozesshierarchie]

The process hierarchy is used to structure the process landscape, usually according to areas of responsibility.

**Process maps** are often used for navigation. They are usually arranged in levels to illustrate how processes are grouped and structured hierarchically. If only one **process map** is actually used, there is no need to set up a hierarchy.

If a process hierarchy is to be used, it must be set up in Bpanda. To do so, as a **BPM Manager** you create the required hierarchy elements across several levels in a tree structure.

To visualize these elements, you model or import a **process map** for each of them in Bpanda. Without a process map, the subordinate levels and the assigned processes are simply listed.

Process maps are scalable vector graphics files (SVG). What matters for use as a process map are labelled area elements that are linked in Bpanda to either a sublevel or a process.

Normally, the top level shows the process groups for management, core and support processes. Core processes are also referred to as value-adding processes. They relate to the company's products and services that are of interest to customers.

Further levels subdivide the process groups until, at the lowest level, the graphic elements of a process map are fully linked to processes. Processes provide a graphic representation of the specific workflows of a particular area in **Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN)**.

The process hierarchy is often already managed by process maps in the modelling tool and can be replicated or imported.

## What do I need to bear in mind with process maps? [#was-muss-ich-bei-den-prozesslandkarten-beachten]

Scalable vector graphics files (SVG) are used as **process maps**. They must contain area elements that can be linked in Bpanda.

For these area elements, process maps contain identifiers that allow the links to subordinate elements or processes to be adopted automatically when the process map is updated.

Note, however, that the identifiers are changed by grouping. Replacing a group consisting of an area and a label with an area with an integrated label, for example, results in a new identifier and therefore the loss of the link. It has to be recreated when the process map is imported again.

## How do I handle the area? [#wie-handhabe-ich-den-bereich]

You can expand the area to the width of the window and restrict it to the page area.

You can expand and collapse sections using the arrow icons.

## Setting up and changing the process hierarchy [#prozesshierarchie-aufbauen-und-ändern]

To set up the process hierarchy, in each sublevel you create as many elements (structure elements or processes) as are to be linked by the **process map** on the level above.

### Elements and how they are displayed in the process hierarchy [#elemente-und-deren-anzeige-in-der-prozesshierarchie]

The process hierarchy in the **Process Hierarchy** tab comprises elements used to structure the processes as well as the processes themselves. In a level of the process hierarchy, the processes are displayed first, followed by the sublevels. Within these two groups, the entries are sorted alphabetically automatically.

### Functions for elements and processes [#funktionen-für-elemente-und-prozesse]

The following functions are available to you for an element:

- **Show diagram** (only if a process map exists)

  Shows the process map in a dialog.
- **Add new sublevel**

  Creates a new element on the sublevel.
- **Delete level**

  Deletes the element. The root element cannot be deleted.
- **Go to process map**

  Switches to the process map. If one does not yet exist, it can be imported or created.
- **Manage level**

  Allows you to edit and translate the name and description of the element as well as define it as the entry point to the process hierarchy for particular organizational units, organizational roles, groups or individual users.

The following functions are available to you for a process:

- **Show diagram**

  Shows the process diagram in a dialog. For processes without a diagram, only a start event is shown.
- **Remove process**

  Removes the process from the process hierarchy. The process is then available to be assigned again.
- **Go to process**

  Switches to the process page.

Elements can also be moved by drag and drop to change the structure of the process hierarchy.