Wide Area Workflow Management

1 Introduction.- 1.1 Scenario.- 1.2 What is Wide Area Workflow Management (WAWM)?.- 1.3 Aims of this book.- 1.4 Structure.- 2 Case studies.- 2.1 Case study 1: sales activities in an international brewery.- 2.2 Case study 2: collaboration between a large lighting manufacturer and suppliers.- 3 Foundations of computer-aided interaction among widely dispersed office workers.- 3.1 Developments in the application of computer systems.- 3.2 Decentralized collaboration.- 3.2.1 Computer-Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW).- 3.2.2 Coordination science.- 3.2.3 Transaction cost theory.- 3.2.4 Interorganizational information systems.- 3.2.5 Electronic commerce.- 3.2.6 Types of cooperation among organizations.- 3.3 Process orientation in office work within and between organizations.- 3.3.1 Office work.- 3.3.2 Business process reengineering.- 3.3.3 Workflow management.- 3.3.4 Distributed and Wide Area Workflow Management.- 3.4 Technological fundaments.- 3.4.1 EDI and EDIFACT.- 3.4.2 Internet and World Wide Web.- 3.4.3 Object management standards.- 3.4.4 Groupware platforms.- 3.4.4.1 General characteristics.- 3.4.4.2 Lotus Notes.- 4 Workflow management related approaches under aspects of distribution.- 4.1 Classification of workflow management systems.- 4.2 Conceptual approaches.- 4.2.1 Reference Model of the Workflow Management Coalition.- 4.2.1.1 Basic concept of the WfMC Reference Model.- 4.2.1.2 Interface 4: interoperability between workflow engines.- 4.2.2 Business process oriented approaches.- 4.2.2.1 Handbook of organizational processes.- 4.2.2.2 PRINCESS.- 4.2.3 Flexibility oriented approaches.- 4.2.3.1 Workflow Continuum and GroupFlow.- 4.2.3.2 FlexWare.- 4.2.3.3 FreeFlow.- 4.2.3.4 MOVE.- 4.2.4 Distribution oriented approaches.- 4.2.4.1 ActMan.- 4.2.4.2 Exotica/FMQM.- 4.2.4.3 POLIKOM.- 4.2.4.4 FUNSOFT nets.- 4.2.4.5 Workonnector.- 4.2.4.6 ORBWork.- 4.2.4.7 VORTEL.- 4.2.4.8 ContAct.- 4.2.5 WWW oriented approaches.- 4.2.5.1 WebWork.- 4.2.5.2 WAX.- 4.2.5.3 PhantaRhei.- 4.2.5.4 WorldFlow.- 4.3 Commercial systems.- 4.4 Discussion of the approaches presented in respect to Wide Area Workflow Management.- 5 Concepts for Wide Area Workflow Management (WAWM).- 5.1 Fundamentals.- 5.2 General characteristics and requirements.- 5.2.1 Challenges of coordinating the collaboration of widely distributed workflow participants.- 5.2.2 Three dimensions of Wide Area Workflow Management.- 5.2.2.1 Information distribution.- 5.2.2.2 Locations.- 5.2.2.3 Organizational integration.- 5.3 Interaction and synchronization of distributed workflow parts.- 5.4 Coordination of WFMSs’ interaction - three different mechanisms.- 5.4.1 Hierarchy.- 5.4.2 Market.- 5.4.3 Cooperation of equal partners.- 5.4.4 Continuum of coordination mechanisms.- 5.5 Aspects of flexibility.- 5.5.1 Flexible planning.- 5.5.2 Flexible run-time operation.- 5.6 Architectural concepts.- 5.6.1 Shared coordination directories.- 5.6.1.1 Structure and contents of coordination directories.- 5.6.1.2 Distribution and synchronization methods.- 5.6.2 Message objects - mobile workflow information carriers.- 5.6.2.1 Structure of message objects.- 5.6.2.2 Format and properties of message objects.- 5.6.2.3 Application of message objects.- 5.6.3 Content management - filtering of information.- 5.6.4 Gateways - connection of heterogeneous WFMSs.- 5.7 Models for implementation and continuous improvement of WAWM.- 5.7.1 Lifecycle for WAWM systems.- 5.7.2 Implementation model for WAWM systems.- 6 Wide Area GroupFlow System (WAGS).- 6.1 Architecture.- 6.1.1 Design approach.- 6.1.2 Technological basis of WAGS.- 6.1.3 Terms.- 6.2 Components.- 6.2.1 Description of organizational structures with WAGS Infrastructure.- 6.2.2 Planning of Wide Area Workflow Management with the WAGS Modeler.- 6.2.3 Exchange and use of workflow interface specifications with the WAGS External Directory.- 6.2.4 Workflow enactment service - WAGS Engine.- 6.2.5 Connection of widely distributed WFMSs with WAGS Gateways.- 6.2.6 Control of workflows