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Definition of Workflow
Workflow Patterns
Other Workflow Resources
Definition of Workflow
Workflow is an IT technology which uses electronic systems to manage and monitor business processes. It allows the flow of work between individuals and/or departments to be defined and tracked. Although Documents are often used as a medium for transporting information in a Workflow system, it is mostly associated with Document Management where the Workflow system is used to track the process of creating and reviewing and distributing Documents.
www.documentmanagement.org.uk/pages/glossary.htm
Web Definitions for Workflow Definitions for Workflow from different glossaries on the web
Workflow Patterns
Check out www.workflowpatterns.com for a wealth of information about the workflow patterns. We have listed the patterns from the site below. In that site, you can find flash animations of the patterns, Standards information, Products that use the patterns etc.
Sequence execute activities in sequence
Parallel Split execute activities in parallel
Synchronization synchronize two parallel threads of execution
Exclusive Choice choose one execution path from many alternatives
Simple Merge merge two alternative execution paths
Multiple Choice choose several execution paths from many alternatives
Synchronizing Merge merge many execution paths. Synchronize if many paths are taken. Simple merge if only one execution path is taken
Multiple Merge merge many execution paths without synchronizing
Discriminator merge many execution paths without synchronizing. Execute the subsequent activity only once
N-out-of-M Join merge many execution paths. Perform partial synchronization and execute subsequent activity only once
Arbitrary Cycles execute workflow graph w/out any structural restriction on loops
Implicit Termination terminate if there is nothing to be done
MI without synchronization generate many instances of one activity without synchronizing them afterwards
MI with a priori known design time knowledge generate many instances of one activity when the number of instances is known at the design time (with synchronization)
MI with a priori known runtime knowledge generate many instances of one activity when a number of instances can be determined at some point during the runtime (as in FOR loop but in parallel)
MI with no a priori runtime knowledge generate many instances of one activity when a number of instances cannot be determined (as in WHILE loop but in parallel)
Deferred Choice execute one of the two alternatives threads. The choice which thread is to be executed should be implicit.
Interleaved Parallel Routing execute two activities in random order, but not in parallel
Milestone enable an activity until a milestone is reached
Cancel Activity cancel (disable) an enabled activity
Cancel Case cancel (disable) the process
Other Workflow Resources
Workflow Management -Models, Methods, and Systems: Book from MIT Press - This book offers a comprehensive introduction to workflow management, the management of business processes with information technology. By defining, analyzing, and redesigning an organization?s resources and operations, workflow management systems ensure that the right information reaches the right person or computer application at the right time. The book provides a basic overview of workflow terminology and organization, as well as detailed coverage of workflow modeling with Petri nets. Because Petri nets make definitions easier to understand for nonexperts, they facilitate communication between designers and users. The book includes a chapter of case studies, review exercises, and a glossary. A special Web site developed by the authors, www.workflowcourse.com, features animation, interactive examples, lecture materials, exercises and solutions, relevant links, and other valuable resources for the classroom.
A Course on Workflow Management - Course Information
Objectives and Content
After taking this course the student should have achieved the following objectives:
- Knows the characteristics of workflow processes, workflow management systems and groupware.
- Is able to make a workflow model based on an informal description.
- Can apply concepts such as case, task, work item, activity, role, organizational unit, resource, push, pull, etc.
- Knows the reference architecture of workflow systems and is aware of the basic functionality offered by contemporary systems.
- Can analyze a workflow process (validation, verification, and performance analysis).
The content of this course contains workflow management systems, workflow modeling, workflow concepts (tasks, work items, activities, roles, groups, etc.), workflow analysis (validation, verification, and performance analysis), and the link to other groupware systems are considered in detail.
Detailed outline of course:
1. Introduction Business Process Management
2. Workflow modeling: Modeling the process perspective
3. Workflow modeling: Modeling the organizational perspective (including link to groupware)
4. Workflow modeling: Modeling the other perspectives (including link to document management)
5. Process-aware information systems: Workflow management technology
6. Methods to support workflow (re)design
7. Business process analysis (simulation, etc.)
8. Languages and standards
e-workflow - The workflow portal
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