BPMN is a notation for a graphical representation (modeling) of "workflow." A diagram drawn by following BPMN notation are called business flow diagram (business process diagram (BPD), workflow diagram). It can also be called consciously "BPMN diagram" for the sake of concreteness.

By following BPMN notation, concerned parties can intuitively understand and share the "workflow." In "BPM (Business Process Management)," BPMN is effective to grasp, evaluate, analyze, and improve business process. Since SOX and J-SOX Act are enacted, it is frequently utilized to draw "workflow diagrams" for "internal control activities" and "internal control reporting activities" that listed and pre-listed companies are required to do.

In addition, BPMN is not an acronym of "BPM (Business Process Management) Notation," but an acronym of "Business Process Modeling Notation." Moreover, since BPMN2.0, BPMS stands for "Business Process Modeling and Notation."