Abstract:
Current workflow management systems (WFMSs) are only applicable in a reliable
and secure manner, if the business process (BP) to be supported is well-structured.
As ad hoc deviations from preplanned
BPs are rather the norm and form a key
part
of process flexibility, this limits the applicability of today's workflow (WF)
technology significantly. In this paper we present a framework for the support
of ad hoc structural changes of WFs.
Basic to our approach is a conceptual,
graph-based WF model which has a formal foundation in its syntax and operational
semantics. Based upon this model we have developed a complete and minimal set of
change operations which support users in
modifying the structure of WFs at
runtime, while preserving their correctness and consistency.
Contact: reichert@informatik.uni-ulm.de