This document discusses workflow management and modeling languages. It begins with defining key terms like workflow and workflow management systems. It then outlines the benefits of workflow management, such as automatic task assignment, integration with other systems, and logging/tracking capabilities. The document also discusses different types of workflow models and criteria for separating activities. It proposes methods for allocating workflow participants to activities, such as direct allocation, role-based allocation, and using formal expressions. Finally, it discusses designing workflow modeling languages through concepts like meta-modeling and using languages like ERM, class diagrams, and activity diagrams for language-oriented and process-oriented meta-modeling.

1. Workflow ManagementBasics of Workflow Managementand Workflow Modeling Languages

2. AgendaWhatis Workflow Management?Workflow Management SystemsBenefitsof Workflow ManagementAspectsof Workflow ModellingLanguagesWorkflow ProcessWorkflow ParticipantsDesigning Workflow Process Modelling Languages

3. Workflow Managementis the automatedCoordination and Control of Business Processes[Joosten 97]z. B. claim settlement,loan approval,stock transaction,order managemente.g. delegation,initiation of activities,reminder, monitoring,role resolutionz. B. property rights,escalation,deadlinesWorkflow Management – Terms andDefinitions

4. Workflow Management – Terms andDefinitionsA Workflowis a businessprocess, whoseactitivytransitionsarecontrolledby anapplicationsystem.A Workflow Management Systemis an application system, with that workflows can be defined, administrated and executed. The order of execution is determined by a formal representation of the process logic within the application system.

5. Workflow TypesAd Hoc: Goal: Quick reaction to simple but unforeseen situations (e.g. “FYI”-E-Mail)Simple process that can be defined within 5 minutes to one hourCollaborative:Goal: Improvement of collaborative workIntegration of multiple teamsUnique, creative process (e.g. software engineering)Administrative:Goal: administrative cost savingsFormal process, medium amount of instances (e.g. accounting)Production:Goal: Increase of productivity and quality in high-load processesFormal process, high amount of instances, response time < sec., secure processes (e.g. loan approval, claim settlement)

6. ProductionCollaborativeLoanApproval,Claim SettlementDocumentation,SoftwareEngineeringAdministrativeAdHocTravel ExpenseReimbursement,Request forLeaveFYI Mail,Ad-hocDelegationWorkflow TypesValue CreationRepetitiveProcessUniqueProcessCf. „Selectinga Workflow Product“, BIS

7. Workflow Instances – Build Time vs. Run TimeBuild timeModelling of WorkflowsRun timeExecution of Workflows

8. AgendaWhatis Workflow Management?Workflow Management SystemsBenefitsof Workflow ManagementAspectsof Workflow ModellingLanguagesWorkflow ProcessWorkflow ParticipantsDesigning Workflow Process Modelling Languages

9. Software Architectures – Monolithic Application SystemsMonolithicApplication Systems

10. Software Architectures – DBMS based Application SystemsApplicationandProcessLogicData ManagementDBMS

11. ApplicationLogicSoftware Architectures – WfMS based Application SystemsProcessLogicData ManagementWFMSDBMS

12. Software Architectures – Component based Application SystemsProcessLogicCompo-nentCEnter-priseServiceCompo-nentBERPModuleCompo-nentAData ManagementOfficePackageWFMSDBMS

13. Application Systems TypesfortheImplementationof different Workflow TypesWfMSProjectManagementGroupware/MailAd HocCollaborativeAdministrativeProduction

14. AgendaWhatis Workflow Management?Workflow Management SystemsBenefitsof Workflow ManagementAspectsof Workflow ModellingLanguagesWorkflow ProcessWorkflow ParticipantsDesigning Workflow Process Modelling Languages

15. Benefits of Workflow Management It’s done by the best user!Every taskisassignedautomaticallyProfile of each user (qualifications)Prioritization by age, type of workMulti-step routing, including parallel paths, rendezvousTask-DistributionPush (send work)Pull (user selects)TimeParticipant can be a person or “robot”

16. Benefits of Workflow Management All necessary tasks are performedCase consists of multiple activitiesInvokes programs or program piecesManual processing stepsCompletionStatus change controls flow (approved, reject)Hold for later processingChange flow for exceptions

17. Benefits of Workflow Management Information is easily accessibleInvoke applicationsTerminal emulation (screen scraping)Direct interfaceMove data with workflowImagesDocumentsMulti-MediaLinksIntegration in the sense of EAI only via Data!

18. Benefits of Workflow ManagementInterface to data systemsNo interface – used side by sideMinimal interface Move key identification (e.g. contract number) from workflow to existing screens (HLLAPI)Popular with users, low costWorkflow invokes legacy systemsAutonomous workflow drives the applicationLegacy systems invoke workflowEmbedded workflow in the applications

19. Benefits of Workflow ManagementLogging and trackingTypical systems provideAutomatic processing history DateTimePersondisposition for each stepUser commentsExplanation of variancespecial circumstancesSearch for work in processDetermine status of workIf qualified, “select” and process work

20. Benefits of Workflow Management Automated monitoringReporting and analysisWork accomplishedTotal volumeTurn-around timeProductivity of individuals, teams, groupsErrors and error ratesUser controlled alarms

21. AgendaWhatis Workflow Management?Workflow Management SystemsBenefitsof Workflow ManagementAspectsof Workflow ModellingLanguagesWorkflow ProcessWorkflow ParticipantsDesigning Workflow ProcessModellingLanguagesThe Infinity Workflow ProcessModelling LanguageDesigning Workflow ResourceModellingLanguagesThe Infinity Workflow ResourceModelling Language

22. Different TypesofProcess ModelsProcess ModelWorkflow Process ModelBusiness Process ModelWorkflow Management,Process AutomationOrganisational Design, BusinesProcessReengineering, etc.

23. Separation Criteriafor Business Process Model ActivitiesSeparation ofactivities, wheneverthereis a changeoftheexecutingprocessparticipantthereis a changeoftheresponsibleprocessparticipantthereis a changeoftheprocessobject (e.g. invoice, account etc.)Modellingofvalueaddingactivities(searchorcoordinationareusually not partof a businessprocess model)Modellingofapplications on activitybasis(coarsegranularity)Categorisedmodellingof organisational structuresExecutionResponsibilityInformation demand („hastobeinformed“)…

24. Separation Criteriafor Workflow Process Model ActivitiesSeparation ofactivities, wheneverthereis a changeoftheexecutingprocessparticipantthereis a changeoftheinvokedapplicationthereis a changeofworkflowdataExplicit modellingofcoordinationanddecisionaspects(fine granular!)Modellingofapplications on interfacebasis(granularityofexecutiondeterminesgranularityofactivities!)Categorisedmodellingof organisational structuresExecutionProcessandactivityresponsibility(Exception Handling)Substitution anddelegationmechanisms

25. CustomeroderarrivesProcesscustomerorderTransformation of Business Process Models to Workflow ModelsWorkflowModellingBusiness ProcessModellingXLevel of DetailAtomicActivity

26. AgendaWhatis Workflow Management?Workflow Management SystemsBenefitsof Workflow ManagementAspectsof Workflow ModellingLanguagesWorkflow ProcessWorkflow ParticipantsDesigning Workflow Process Modelling Languages

27. AllocationofAppropriateParticipantsto Workflow ActivitiesEmployeewhoexecutes a workflowactivity,hastobequalifiedappropriatelyhastohavetheauthorisationtoexecute an activityhastohavetheauthorisationtoexecutetheaccordingapplicationshastohavetheauthorisationtousetheworkflowdataDifferent strategiestoassignemployeestoworkflows

28. Allocation of Workflow Participants to ActivitiesDirect AllocationA participant is allocated directly to an activityE.g.: Employee “XY2034 Accounting”executes activity “enter invoice”Pro:Easy to specify and to implementContra:Maintenance costly, whenever the organisation changes  inflexibleWorkflow and organisation are not independent

29. Allocation of Workflow Participants to ActivitiesRole-based AllocationRole: Set of qualifications and competenciesQualification: capability (education, physical ability)Competence: authorisation,responsibilityRole: Synonym for one or more workflow participantsE.g.: EmployeesofroleZ800 areabletoperformactivity WF134 „enter invoice“Pro:FlexibleWorkflow and organisation are independentIndirect load sharingContra:Increased complexity of resource modelException handling necessary

30. Allocation of Workflow Participants to ActivitiesAllocation with Formal ExpressionsAllocation interpreting a formal expressionE.g.: Superior(Resource(Activity(x)))Preconditions:Workflow modeller has to be familiar with the structure of the resource modelException handling necessaryPro & contra: cf. role-based allocation

31. Object Types in Resource Models (1/2)EmployeeHuman resource that is able to execute activitiesOrganisational positionJob (e.g. “clerk damage adjustment m-z”)A job can be assigned with one ore more personsPosition type (“little” Role)Categories of similar positions

32. Object Types in Resource Models (2/2)Organisational unitCluster of positionsTemporary or permanentQualificationCapability of a person that was acquired by the person him/herself and that cannot be withdrawn“Measurement“ e.g. through certificates CompetenceResposibilities and authorizations that can be assigned to or withdrawn from a person Qualification + Competence = Role

33. AgendaWhatis Workflow Management?Workflow Management SystemsBenefitsof Workflow ManagementAspects of Workflow Modelling LanguagesWorkflow ProcessWorkflow ParticipantsDesigning Workflow Process Modelling Languages

34. Digression:Meta Modeling

35. Language DesignLanguagescanbethesubjectofscientificanalysisTheoryoflogiclanguagelayersObjectlanguage: subjectoftheanalysisMetalanguage: Language thatisusedtoperformtheanalysisRelative languagelayers

36. Language Layers

37. Language Oriented Meta-izationLanguages… defineconceptsthatcanbeusedtobuildmodels… canbe, in turn, representedbymodelsModels tobuildlanguagesallowlanguageoriented meta-izationExample: Model M1 isbuiltwithlanguage S1Language S1 isrepresented in model M2Then M2 iscalledlanguageorientedmetamodel,relatedtotheissuemodelled in M1

38. Model Layersof Language Oriented Meta-ization

39. ProcessOriented Meta-izationInstructions… determinetheprocessofmodelling in a particularmodellinglanguage…canbe, in turn, representedbymodelsModels to represent instructions allowprocessoriented meta-izationExample: Model M3 isbuiltwithlanguage S2Models builtwith S2 arebuiltaccordingtoprocess P1Process P1 isrepresentedthrough model M4Then,M4 isprocessorientedmeta model,related to the issue modelled in M3

40. Model LayersofProcessOriented Meta-ization

41. ExemplaryLanguagesfor Language OrientedMetaModellingLanguage OrientedMetaModelling:Languagesthatareabletorepresentobjectsandrelationships datamodellinglanguagesERMClass DiagramMOF…Iftherearesyntaxrulesthataretoocomplexfordatamodellinglanguages (e.g. recursiverelationshiprules), themeta model hastobeextendedby formal grammarsNote: Metamodelsusuallydefineonlytheconceptualaspectofmodellinglanguages

42. Example: The ERM Meta Model in ERM Notation

43. ExemplaryInstantiationof a Meta Model as a ModelModelMeta Model

44. ExemplaryInstantiationof a Meta Model as a ModelModelMeta Model

45. ExemplaryInstantiationof a Meta Model as a ModelModelMeta Model

46. ExemplaryInstantiationof a Meta Model as a ModelModelMeta Model

47. ExemplaryInstantiationof a Meta Model as a ModelModelMeta Model

48. ExemplaryInstantiationof a Meta Model as a ModelModelMeta Model

49. ExemplaryInstantiationof a Meta Model as a ModelModelMeta Model

50. ExemplaryLanguagesforProcessOrientedMetaModellingProcessOrientedMetaModelling:LanguagesthatareabletorepresentactionEPCPetri NetsActivityDiagramsValue Chains…Example: valuechainthatdescribes EPC modelling

51. Thankyou