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Concept
Workflow management system
Summary
A workflow management system (WfMS or WFMS) provides an infrastructure for the set-up, performance and monitoring of a defined sequence of tasks, arranged as a workflow application.
There are several international standards-setting bodies in the field of workflow management:
Workflow Management Coalition
World Wide Web Consortium
Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards
WS-BPEL 2.0 (integration-centric) and WS-BPEL4People (human task-centric) published by OASIS Standards Body.
The underlying theoretical basis of workflow management is the mathematical concept of a Petri net.
Each of the workflow models has tasks (nodes) and dependencies between the nodes. Tasks are activated when the dependency conditions are fulfilled.
WfMS allow the user to define different workflows for different types of jobs or processes. For example, in a manufacturing setting, a design document might be automatically routed from designer to a technical director to the production engineer. At each stage in the workflow, one individual or group is responsible for a specific task. Once the task is complete, WfMS ensures that the individuals responsible for the next task are notified and receive the data they need to execute their stage of the process.
Workflows can also have more complex dependencies; for example if a document is to be translated into several languages, a translation manager could select the languages and each selection would then be activated as a work order form for a different translator. Only when all the translators have completed their respective tasks would the next task in the process be activated. It is process management from top level to lower level.
WfMS also automate redundant tasks and ensure that uncompleted tasks are followed up.
A key standard that deals with human tasks in workflows is the WS-BPEL4People Standard by the OASIS Standards Body.
WfMS may control automated processes in addition to replacing paper work order transfers.
Official source
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