AbstractMajority of current methods for process modeling utilize a centralized approach in which a group of experts work with the agents to understand, model, and improve the organization's processes. This article proposes a novel approach for process modeling that is based on the idea that modeling organizations' processes can be performed by process owners—individuals actually performing the processes. Instead of having a centralized and devoted group of people, process performers are held responsible for the model and improve their own processes concurrently and in a decentralized manner. The article also summarizes the lessons learned by the application of the method in two organizations. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.