Set activity definitions

Define the specific data that you want to view in the graph for your project. Activities are actions that are performed in a process. Activities are recorded in chronological order, enabling process mining algorithms to analyze the sequence of events and uncover insights about the process flow, bottlenecks, variations, and potential improvements.

Before you begin

Role required: sn_process_optimization_analyst, sn_process_optimization_power_user, or sn_process_optimization_admin

Note:

You can configure a maximum of 10 activity definitions for the parent table configuration and 5 activity definitions for any child table configuration. You can’t generate more than 5000 elements for any activity definition.

About this task

Process Mining gathers audit log field data for the activities that you define. Configure at least one activity to extract for and display in your process map records that start, end, or pass through a specific activity.

Note:

While configuring a project, you first must set up a main (parent) table configuration, define an activity definition and set up a breakdown definition. If only one table is needed, you can generate a full project that you can periodically mine and schedule with the data. If multiple tables are required, you must create additional (child) tables, relate it to the main (parent) table, and define the activity definition. You may also configure breakdown definitions on child tables.

Dot-walking and compounding aren’t supported when you create a project from the Project Builder. However, when you edit a project, you can open it from the ServiceNow Platform and add these to the project. To edit a project, select Edit Project from Process Mining Workspace.

From the next page, select Advanced Options.

You will be able to update the project from ServiceNow Platform view.

Procedure

1. Navigate to All > Process Mining > Projects > All projects.
   If you continue from the Set Objectives page, you are on the Scope your analysis page.
2. Select the edit button for the Scope your analysis section.
3. On the Scope your analysis page, select Activities from the left bar.
4. Select New in the Activity definition area.
5. Fill the form.

   Table 1. Activity Definition form

   Select type	The type of values you want to mine. You have the following values: Field Values (Default): This is the default selection. This option is available whenever you create an activity definition. Date Time: Uses date time value from the actual record rather than the audit history and is displayed as a grouped node on the process map. Child Attached: This option is available when you’ve selected two tables for table configuration and have set a child-parent relationship. This option is available only for the parent table configuration. In the graph, you see when the child was attached in the process. Parent Attached: This option creates a node on the child process representing when a parent record was attached to a child.
   Field	Specify the field or column from the table whose data you want to view in the process graph.
   Activity name (Optional)	Name to display for this activity. If no name is entered, the activity name displays the value provided for Field.
   Select values that you want to add as activities	You can choose to mine specific activity values for the selected field. For example, you have chosen the Incident table. Now, you want to see records that went through Assignment group Service Desk and Assignment group Database. To see this data, you must select Assignment group as the Field and add Service Desk and Database from List of values.
   Group activities	If you select group activities, the process map reflects the group of changes for the activity as one change item. For example, suppose you configure Assignment group to report on and select to track changes for it. Changes to assignment group occur and list in the audit log as: Group A > Group B > Group C. Result: The data in the process map reflects as one change: 'Assignment group changed'. If this option isn’t checked, the process map reflects records of each instance of change individually. Example: You can configure Assignment group to report on, but don't select Group activities. Changes to assignment group occur and list in the audit log as: Group A > Group B > Group C. Result: The process map reflects each individual change made, continuing to reflect the changes as is standard from the audit log: 'Change: Group A > Change: Group B > Change: Group C'. Figure 1. Changes are grouped Figure 2. Changes shown as standard
   Activity of Interest	Whether field changes appear in the analyst workbench Note: When this option is selected, field changes don’t appear in the analyst workbench, but can still be used in contextual conditions in transitions or findings.
   Include empty start node	Includes an empty node on the process graph when the selected activity definition field is empty at the time of record creation.

   Note:

   To edit an activity definition, select the activity definition from the list and make edits. To delete an activity definition, select the activity definition from the list and select the Delete icon ().
6. Select Save, and then select Next or Save and Exit.
   If you select Next, you’re taken to the Improvement opportunities page. If you want to add or edit anything in the Scope your analysis page, you can go back manually.