A framework for selecting workflow tools in the context of composite information systems

When an organization faces the need of integrating some workflow-related activities in its information system, it becomes necessary to have at hand some well-defined informational model to be used as a framework for determining the selection criteria onto which the requirements of the organization can be mapped. Some proposals exist that provide such a framework, remarkably the WfMC reference model, but they are designed to be appl icable when workflow tools are selected independently from other software, and departing from a set of well-known requirements. Often this is not the case: workflow facilities are needed as a part of the procurement of a larger, composite information syste m and therefore the general goals of the system have to be analyzed, assigned to its individual components and further detailed. We propose in this paper the MULTSEC method in charge of analyzing the initial goals of the system, determining the types of components that form the system architecture, building quality models for each type and then mapping the goals into detailed requirements which can be measured using quality criteria. We develop in some detail the quality model (compliant with the ISO/IEC 9126-1 quality standard) for the workflow type of tools; we show how the quality model can be used to refine and clarify the requirements in order to guarantee a highly reliable selection result; and we use it to evaluate two particular workflow solutions a- ailable in the market (kept anonymous in the paper). We develop our proposal using a particular selection experience we have recently been involved in, namely the procurement of a document management subsystem to be integrated in an academic data management information system for our university.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Developing Web Services Using Workflow Model: An Inter-organizational Perspective

This paper discusses how a workflow model can be used in the design and development of web services composition. We particularly investigate the development of web services composition in an inter-organizational workflow environment. We discuss respectively how to design an inter-organizational workflow from scratch when there is no existing internal workflow, and how to make existing internal workflows work together in an inter-organizational workflow environment

The Challenges of Inter-Organizational Business Process Design - A Research Agenda

Given the increasing importance of value chain collaboration, business processes need to be more closely aligned across organizational boundaries. Hence, business process modeling and design have to be enhanced and extended to cope with inter-organizational business relationships. Among the challenges that arise are interdependencies between internal and external processes, different process logic and terminology, missing clarification of responsibilities and confidentiality issues. This paper analyzes existing approaches to business process modeling, workflow management and B2B standardization with regard to the specific requirements concerning inter-organizational business process design. It extracts the relevant concepts addressing these requirements and draws up an agenda for further research

Collaborative Business Process Management - A Literature-based Analysis of Methods for Supporting Model Understandability

Due to the growing amount of cooperative business scenarios, collaborative Business Process Management (cBPM) has emerged. The increased number of stakeholders with minor expertise in process modeling leads to a high relevance of model understandability in cBPM contexts. Despite extensive works in the research fields of cBPM and model understandability in BPM, there is no analysis and comprehensive overview of methods supporting process model understandability in cBPM scenarios. To address this research gap, this paper presents the results of a literature review. The paper identifies concepts for supporting model understandability in BPM, provides an overview of methods implementing these concepts, and discusses the methods’ applicability in cBPM. The four concepts process model transformation, process model visualization, process model description, and modeling support are introduced. Subsequently, 69 methods are classified and discussed in the context of cBPM. Results contribute to revealing existing academic voids and can guide practitioners in cBPM scenarios

Measuring IT System Value with Entity-Specific Factors Influencing Process Runtime Efficiency

This empirical study explores the different factors influencing the runtime of a booking process in the middle office of a major European investment company. The study is based on mixed methods research that combines qualitative research data collection techniques with a quantitative research approach. On the basis of semi-structured interviews, we first develop and present a model of the business process and control points to assess booking runtime. We further identify relevant and IT-related factors such as process automation that may affect booking runtime. Then, we analyze a unique dataset of historical process cycles providing details on booking runtime. Our quantitative analysis of this data provides new insights into how to identify most relevant factors affecting runtime of transaction processes in the financial industry. From a methodological perspective, our study illustrates how to conduct mixed methods research in the field of process performance evaluations

View-Unterstützung in Prozess-Management-Systemen

Sichten (englisch Views) spielen in Datenbanksystemen seit langem eine wichtige Rolle, wenn es um die Daten-unabhängigkeit von Anwendungssystemen oder Sicherheits-aspekte geht. Im Blickpunkt dieser Arbeit ist die Fragestellung, inwieweit sich Views auch auf Schemata und Instanzen in Prozess-Management-Systemen anwenden lassen. Zu diesem Zweck werden zunächst für Prozess-Views verschiedene Anwendungsfälle (z.B. Kapselung, Komplexitäts-verminderung, Effizienz und Verbergung von Informationen) identifiziert. Je nach Anwendungsfall sind verschiedene Operationen auf Views nötig. Diese lassen sich in Operationen für reine Lesezugriffe sowie Operationen für Schema und Instanzänderungen unterteilen. Zur View-Bildung können insbesondere zwei grundlegende Methoden zur Anwendung kommen: Die Zusammenfassung mehrerer Aktivitäten zu einem neuen virtuellen Schritt (Graphaggregation) oder das Verbergen von einzelnen Aktivitäten bzw. Prozesselementen (Graphreduktion). Aufbauend auf diesen Methoden und den für Views definierten Operationen werden Algorithmen für die Viewerzeugung sowie verschiedene mögliche Methoden für die Verwaltung und Speicherung von Views vorgestellt und diskutiert. Schließlich wird auf die Problematik der Aktualisierung von Views bei Prozess-Änderungen und die Möglichkeit von Schemaänderungen über eine View im Detail eingegangen. Beide Aspekte sind für die Realisierung adaptiver Prozess-Management-Systeme fundamental

Coordinating Interorganizational Workflows Based on Process-Views

In multi-enterprise cooperation, an enterprise must monitor the progress of private processes as well as those of the partners to streamline interorganizational workflows. In this work, a process-view model, which extends beyond the conventional activity-based process model, is applied to design workflows across multiple enterprises. A process-view is an abstraction of an implemented process. An enterprise can design various process-views for different partners according to diverse commercial relationships, and establish an integrated process that is comprised of private processes as well as the process-views that these partners provide. Participatory enterprises can obtain appropriate progress information from their own integrated processes, allowing them to collaborate more effectively. Furthermore, interorganizational workflows are coordinated through virtual states of process-views. This work develops a regulated approach to map the states between private processes and process-views. The proposed approach enhances prevalent activity-based process models to be adapted in open and collaborative environments

IS standards in designing business-to-government collaborations.

IS STANDARDS IN DESIGNING BUSINESS-TO-GOVERNMENT COLLABORATIONS. Elaborating the impact of standards on inter-organizational collaborations, inter-organizational studies demonstrated a standard’s positive impact on the collaboration between governmental and business partners. How and under which conditions information systems (IS) standards contribute to the effectiveness of business-to-government (B2G) collaborations in customs management is the topic of this thesis. Chapter 2 provides the theoretical and methodological background of the thesis. It illustrates how standards research emerged under institutional conditions such as actor types, linkages and social structures. With the case study in Chapter 3, the thesis introduces a reference framework that gathers different aspects in three pre-selected international business-to-government collaborations. Describing the cases that are subject to the export from EU to non-EU countries a diagnosis of B2G collaborations and relevant elements for the design of the artifact is conducted. A diagnosis of related work in the field of B2G collaborations is provided in Chapter 4. The assessment of collaboration forms revealed necessary constructs of a procedure model and institutional steps necessary to form B2G collaboration as such. Chapter 5 distils related work of IS standards research. In Chapters 6 and 7 considerations from the previous chapters lead to the core part of the thesis, the design and build of a procedure model to institutionalize B2G collaborations, the B2G Procedure Model (B2GPM). The results from the first round of design, the building blocks for B2G collaborations, are subject to Chapter 6. They conclude in a set of design principles of the B2GPM that are being introduced in the chapter. Chapter 7 covers the second round of design by refining the elements of B2G collaboration and the design principles. It continues with the design of the B2GPM. The composition, description, and documentation of the procedure model are the core part of this chapter. Chapter 8 is dedicated to the question of required organizational adoption to deploy the B2GPM. The model is seen as a procedural innovation by which B2G collaboration in customs management can be further improved. The applicability of the B2GPM is based on a series of evaluation cycles and results in the provision of influencing factors of organizational adoption.