---
sourceDocument: Australia Enterprise Architecture
sourceDocumentLink: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/australia/application-portfolio-management

 Release :

    - australia

ft:locale :

    - en-US

ft:publication_title :

    - Australia Enterprise Architecture

ft:clusterId :

    - appportman

bundleId :

    - appportman

workflow :

    - Technology


---

# Exploring business process activities

# Exploring business process activities {#ariaid-title1}

Release version: Australia  
Updated August 3, 2026  
![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 1 minute to read  
Business process activities represent discrete units of work within workflows. Knowing how they differ from business processes helps you model organizational tasks accurately.

A business process activity represents a specific task, step, or action performed within your organization, such as a manual task, an approval step, or a system-triggered action.{#eaw-business-process-activities__eaw-business-process-activities-para-1}

## Business processes vs. business process activities {#eaw-business-process-activities__section_hcc_ykx_ckc}

Business processes and business process activities serve different purposes:

* Business process --- Models the overall workflow your organization uses to achieve a business outcome. Business processes are organized into a hierarchy of levels (L0, L1, L2, and deeper) using CI relationships. Each level represents a broader or narrower scope of the same workflow.
* Business process activity --- A standalone record that represents a discrete unit of work, classified by an activity type (for example, Manual Task). Unlike business process levels, a business process activity is not part of the L0-L2 hierarchy --- instead, it is associated with the business actors who perform it.
{#eaw-business-process-activities__ul_bp_vs_bpa_distinction}  
You can:

* Create and edit business process activities
* Classify activities by type
* Assign owners and managing groups
* Link activities to business actors who perform them
{#eaw-business-process-activities__ul_bpa_capabilities}

When you model a business process activity in a diagram, the default relationship between a business process activity and a business actor is Performed by :: Performs.{#eaw-business-process-activities__eaw-business-process-activities-para-4}
**Related concepts**   

* [Manage business process activities](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/agZFFNqtVF6vkZVTCHUn3g "Business process activities represent discrete units of work performed by business actors. Use the Portfolio List view to create, edit, and assign business actors to activities.")