71 research outputs found
Data model evolution as a basis of business process management
In this article we propose an approach to business process
management which meets the demands of business process evolution. This approach allows for on-the-fy modifications of business processes.
In contrast to many other approaches, we do not only concentrate onactivities to be carried out in business processes, but also on the datacreated and manipulated by these activities We propose to apply datamodel analysis and improvement strategies well-known from the information system field in the context of business process management
Requirements for the workflow-based support of release management processes in the automotive sector
One of the challenges the automotive industry currently has to master is the complexity of the electrical/elctronic system of a car. One key factor for reaching short product development cycles and high quality in this area are well-defined, properly executed test and release processes. In this paper we show why workflow management technology is needed to support these processes and how this support should look like. We further confront these requirements with the features of contemporary workflow technology and discuss which extensions become necessary
Identifying and Evaluating Change Patterns and Change Support Features in Process-Aware Information Systems.
In order to provide effective support, the introduction of
process-aware information systems (PAIS) must not freeze existing business processes. Instead PAIS should allow authorized users to flexibly deviate from the predefined processes if required and to evolve business processes in a controlled manner over time. Many software vendors promise flexible system solutions for realizing such adaptive PAIS,
but are often unable to cope with fundamental issues elated to process change (e.g., correctness and robustness). The existence of different process support paradigms and the lack of methods for comparing existing change approaches makes it difficult for PAIS engineers to choose the adequate technology. In this paper we suggest a set of changes patterns and change support features to foster systematic comparison of existing process management technology with respect to change support. Based on these change patterns and features, we provide a detailed analysis and evaluation of selected systems from both academia and industry
Comparing Petri Net and Activity Diagram Variants for Workflow Modelling:A Quest for Reactive Petri Nets
Petri net variants are widely used as a workflow modelling technique. Recently, UMLa ctivity diagrams have been used for the same purpose, even though the syntax and semantics of activity diagrams has not been yet fully worked out. Nevertheless, activity diagrams seem very similar to Petri nets and on the surface, one may think that they are variants of each other. To substantiate or deny this claim, we need to formalise the intended semantics of activity diagrams and then compare this with various Petri net semantics. In previous papers we have defined two formal semantics for UMLact ivity diagrams that are intended for workflow modelling. In this paper, we discuss the design choices that underlie these two semantics and investigate whether these design choices can be met in low-level and high-level Petri net semantics. We argue that the main difference between the Petri net semantics and our semantics of UML act ivity diagrams is that the Petri net semantics models resource usage of closed, active systems that are non-reactive, whereas our semantics of UMLact ivity diagrams models open, reactive systems. Since workflow systems are open, reactive systems, we conclude that Petri nets cannot model workflows accurately, unless they are extended with a syntax and semantics for reactivity
The Role of Process Improvement in Attaining Strategic Goals and Providing Financial Value
Customers are demanding increasing value for the money they spend on high technology products. Moreover, competition in the high tech industry is increasing -nationally as well as internationally. As a result, satisfying the customer and providing increased customer value are becoming primary objectives for high technology executives and managers.Many firms that once considered themselves hardware companies are now finding that they are developing a significant amount of software. This software is becoming increasingly sophisticated and costly. Moreover, software projects are increasingly on the critical path . Software developers can put in more effort and work harder. However, it isthe process used to develop the software which coordinates developer efforts and tools. This process can make or break the ability of the firm to deliver. From a strategic standpoint for many high tech firms, improving the software development processes is becoming critically important. However, it is difficult to determine which processes to improve. Studies have shown that firms are finding it difficult to quantitatively justify the resources required to successfully improve their software development processes [5]. Still, many firms are involved in software process improvement efforts.This paper provides summarized results from several companies who have been involved in process improvement activities to show the potential which can be achieved. We then discuss a framework for viewing process changes along strategic lines -with the goal of improving customer value. Once a set of potential process changes has been identified, these changes need to be evaluated. We discuss an approach which can be used to evaluate and tradeoff among proposed alternatives. This approach predicts the performance of process alternatives quantitatively in terms of development cost, product quality, and project schedule. In addition, financial measures such as return on investment (ROI) and net present value (NPV) can be obtaine
E/VPL a system for modelling and enacting software processes
This research addresses the technical issues involved in specifying and mechanically supporting software development processes and is related to the view of processes as “software”, i.e. as a specifiable and executable entity.
Software processes can be described using textual and graphical techniques. This allows interested parties to agree that it reflects the true process, to reason about the process and to identify potential improvements. In designing new or improved processes, an ability to simulate these processes is invaluable. Such simulations, based on the process descriptions, allow one to step through the process tasks in an interactive manner. Thus one can evaluate the effectiveness of processes, assess their behaviour and ask “what-if ’ questions based upon proposed modifications. Simulations with the help of quantitative data, can be run for statistical purposes, where parameters can be varied.
Process descriptions can be used as a basis for process automation, as they contain much of the information needed to build a process-centred environment However, many currently available tools, whose origins lie in process definition, allow simulation, but do not generally support real-time execution of process descriptions.
This thesis reviews the current state-of-the-art in automated systems that enact software development processes and proposes a system called Enhanced Visual Process Language (E/VPL), which is a graphically-oriented process modelling system. A prototype system has been constructed to implement E/VPL and is evaluated to assess its potential as a process modelling system
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