Deviation analysis
Deviation analysis quantifies how often and how much an observed process diverges from its reference model — measuring missed steps, extra steps, out-of-order steps, and loops. Each deviation type is counted and traced back to the cases that produced it, surfacing systematic vs one-off divergence.
Deviation analysis is the practical operationalisation of conformance checking. Output is typically a ranked list of deviations by frequency, each linked to the cases exhibiting it. The interpretation: some deviations are signals of process design failure (the step was skipped 200 times because the system makes it hard to do); others are signals of policy failure (the step was skipped because nobody enforces it); others are healthy adaptation (the step was skipped because it's not actually needed in this case type and the process should be updated). The triage produces concrete process redesign work rather than abstract 'compliance' policing.
Related terms
- Process conformance
Process conformance is the analysis of how well an observed event log matches a reference process model — measuring deviations, missing steps, and extra steps.
- Process discovery
Process discovery is the process-mining technique of constructing a process model (typically BPMN or a Petri net) from an event log without prior knowledge of the intended process.
- Variant analysis
Variant analysis groups cases by the unique sequence of activities they followed and ranks variants by frequency and cost.