Task types

IBM BPM, V8.0.1, All platforms > Create processes in IBM Process Designer > Modeling processes > Create a business process definition (BPD)
Task types

Learn more about the task types that are available when modeling with IBM Process Designer.
IBM BPM supports the following task types:

Available task types
Task type Description
User Task User tasks must be completed by process participants and are associated with Human services by default. When you drag a Human service from the library to a BPD diagram, Process Designer automatically creates an activity with a User task with the Human service selected. When you drag an activity from the palette to a participant lane in a BPD diagram, Process Designer automatically creates an activity with a User task with the Default Human service selected. For cases where you want a user to start the service but no additional user involvement is required, you can also choose a user task type and associate a service with it, such as an Integration or Advanced Integration service. In this way, Process Designer automatically creates the required user implementation that you need when you drag process components onto a diagram. You can also choose User Task and an associated service for an activity implementation, as described in Implementing activities.
System Task System tasks must be completed by an automated system or service and are automatically run without a need for user initiation regardless of the type of lane in which they are defined in a BPD diagram. When you drag an Ajax service, General System service, Integration service, or Advanced Integration service from the library to a BPD diagram, Process Designer automatically creates an activity with a System task type, regardless of whether the service is dragged to a system lane or to a participant lane. Dragging an activity from the palette to a system lane in a BPD diagram automatically creates an activity with a System task with the Default System service selected. System tasks that you place in a non-system lane are also run by the system. In this way, Process Designer automatically creates the System implementation that you need when you drag process components onto a diagram. You can also choose System Task and an associated service for an activity implementation, as described in Implementing activities.
Decision Task Decision tasks are useful when you want a decision or condition in a business rule to determine which process implementation is started. When you drag a Decision service from the library to a BPD diagram, Process Designer automatically creates an activity with a Decision task. You can also choose Decision Task and an associated Decision service for an activity implementation, as described in Implementing activities.
Decision tasks in IBM BPM are equivalent to BPMN 2.0 Business Rule Tasks.

Simple and multi-instance loop properties can be defined for all task types. See Create loops.

Create a business process definition (BPD)

Task type	Description
User Task	User tasks must be completed by process participants and are associated with Human services by default. When you drag a Human service from the library to a BPD diagram, Process Designer automatically creates an activity with a User task with the Human service selected. When you drag an activity from the palette to a participant lane in a BPD diagram, Process Designer automatically creates an activity with a User task with the Default Human service selected. For cases where you want a user to start the service but no additional user involvement is required, you can also choose a user task type and associate a service with it, such as an Integration or Advanced Integration service. In this way, Process Designer automatically creates the required user implementation that you need when you drag process components onto a diagram. You can also choose User Task and an associated service for an activity implementation, as described in Implementing activities.
System Task	System tasks must be completed by an automated system or service and are automatically run without a need for user initiation regardless of the type of lane in which they are defined in a BPD diagram. When you drag an Ajax service, General System service, Integration service, or Advanced Integration service from the library to a BPD diagram, Process Designer automatically creates an activity with a System task type, regardless of whether the service is dragged to a system lane or to a participant lane. Dragging an activity from the palette to a system lane in a BPD diagram automatically creates an activity with a System task with the Default System service selected. System tasks that you place in a non-system lane are also run by the system. In this way, Process Designer automatically creates the System implementation that you need when you drag process components onto a diagram. You can also choose System Task and an associated service for an activity implementation, as described in Implementing activities.
Decision Task	Decision tasks are useful when you want a decision or condition in a business rule to determine which process implementation is started. When you drag a Decision service from the library to a BPD diagram, Process Designer automatically creates an activity with a Decision task. You can also choose Decision Task and an associated Decision service for an activity implementation, as described in Implementing activities. Decision tasks in IBM BPM are equivalent to BPMN 2.0 Business Rule Tasks.