Process Mining key terms

  • Release version: Australia
  • Updated March 12, 2026
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of Process Mining Key Terms

    This document outlines key terms related to Process Mining, which helps visualize and analyze business processes by extracting data from operational system logs. Understanding these terms will enable ServiceNow customers to better utilize Process Mining features effectively.

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    Key Features

    • Activity: Represents a single step within a process, derived from captured tasks in the audit log.
    • Attribute of Interest: Refers to activities not visible in graphs but usable in rule findings logic.
    • Audit Log: Records system events, including date, time, and actions performed during task execution.
    • Connection: A line linking two activities or steps, indicating sequential process flow.
    • Finding: Insights into key performance aspects of a business process, highlighting areas needing attention.
    • Generate: The process of extracting data from event logs to reveal trends in business processes.
    • Linked Process: A subprocess connected to a main process.
    • Process Map: A visual representation of a business process showing actual events and their routes, compared to a target route.
    • Project: A configured process model within Process Mining.
    • Record: A business record of a process cycle that can vary with applied filters.
    • Repetitions: Instances of repeated steps or sets of steps in the process.
    • Route: A specific occurrence of a process with variations in steps compared to other occurrences.
    • Sliders: Tools on the process map screen to adjust the detail of displayed activities and connections.
    • Transition: Represents a change in the state of an activity.

    Key Outcomes

    By familiarizing yourself with these key terms, you will be better equipped to analyze and visualize business processes within ServiceNow, leading to improved insights and performance management.

    Key terms used in Process Mining.

    Table 1. Process Mining Key Terms
    Term Description
    Activity A selection of captured tasks or actions from the audit log that are used for visualizing the project, including tracked fields. An activity consists of one step within a process, or which occurred within a route. A connection runs between activities.
    Attribute of interest Activities that are not visible in the process graph, breakdowns, or in variance stats. These definitions are still available to use in rule findings logic.
    Audit log The record of operational system events or activities that occur when a task is performed, such as date, time, and activity.
    Connection Line joining two activities, or process steps, in a map. A connection reflects a part of a process with two sequential, connected steps.
    Finding Key performance insights discovered for a business process. Findings help you review areas that need further attention.
    Generate The process of extracting or mining data from an operational system's event logs and applying algorithms that reveal trends and a detailed picture of how a business process flows.
    Linked process A connected, or subprocess linked to a main process.
    Process map A project generated after a data extraction has been performed that visually represents events gathered from a system's audit log which are part of a defined business process. The map represents actual events, or routes, consisting of a series of steps taken from a defined start to finish. A process map also compares the actual routes to a defined target route to provide a view of business process performance.
    Project Process Mining term for a configured process model.
    Record A business record of a process cycle (project) that runs through a route. Many records can run through a route. In Process Mining, the number of records can change when filters are applied.
    Repetitions Repeated steps (activities) or step sets (connections).
    Route An occurrence of a process where at least one activity within the sequence of steps differs from all other occurrences of the process. Routes can include an optimally defined successful route, as well as variant or possible routes that may be alternate success paths or faulty exception paths. Several routes can be simultaneously represented on a process map.
    Sliders Activity and connection slider tools on the process map screen for showing process steps. Using the sliders can show sequential connections between them in a more or less detailed view.
    Transition A change of activity state.