1. A computer-implemented visual process model importation method comprising: identifying in an importer executing in memory by a processor of a data processing system, an arrangement of a plurality of visual objects in a visual process model, the visual process model comprising a plurality of different source shapes arranged to represent a set of activities to be performed in a dynamic or static system; selecting associations by the importer between said visual objects and corresponding representative elements for a target process model; mapping by a mapper executing in the memory of the data processing system said visual objects in a source model into said selected corresponding representative elements for said target process model; and, producing by a file reader executing in the memory of the data processing system said target process model for said visual process model using said mapping.