A gateway is a symbol that represents a decision point in the process where the flow of the process can take multiple paths. There are different types of gateways that can be used, including exclusive, inclusive, complex, and parallel gateways.
An exclusive gateway is used to represent a decision point in the process where the flow of the process can only take one path based on a single condition or criteria. For example, in an order fulfillment process, an exclusive gateway might be used to determine whether an item is in stock or not. If the item is in stock, the flow of the process can proceed to the next step, while if it is out of stock, the flow of the process might be directed to a backorder or cancellation process.
An inclusive gateway is used to represent a decision point in the process where the flow of the process can take multiple paths based on different conditions or criteria. For example, in a loan application process, an inclusive gateway might be used to evaluate the credit score, income, and employment history of an applicant to determine which products or terms they are eligible for.
A complex gateway is used to represent a decision point in the process where the flow of the process can take multiple paths based on complex or multiple criteria. For example, in a hiring process, a complex gateway might be used to evaluate the qualifications and experience of a candidate, as well as their availability and salary expectations, to determine which role they are best suited for within the organization.
A parallel gateway is used to represent a decision point in the process where the flow of the process can be split into multiple parallel paths. For example, in a manufacturing process, a parallel gateway might be used to split the flow of materials into multiple parallel paths, allowing multiple components of a product to be manufactured in parallel.
In summary, gateways are symbols used in business process diagrams to represent decision points where the flow of the process can take multiple paths. By using different types of gateways, organizations can represent different types of decision-making processes and better understand how the process can be optimized to achieve the desired outcomes.