Which shape represents activities in BPMN?

In Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN), activities are represented by rounded rectangles, which are commonly referred to as squares in simplified discussions. They denote tasks or work that needs to be performed within a process. The use of a square shape (or rounded rectangle) signifies that a specific task is being executed, and it is the primary representation used when modeling activities in BPMN diagrams.

The other shapes serve distinct purposes within BPMN: circles typically represent events (which trigger processes or occur based on a condition), diamonds denote gateways (which indicate decisions or branching points within a workflow), and triangles do not have a standard meaning within BPMN.

Understanding that the rounded rectangle is the definitive shape for activities helps in accurately interpreting BPMN diagrams and effectively communicating process flows within organizations. This differentiation of shapes establishes a clear visual language that is essential for analysts and stakeholders to understand and work with process models.