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Keywords:
First keyword
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Links:
BaDa97, ReDa97
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Abstract:
Workflow management systems (WFMSs) are only applicable in a secure
and safe manner if the business process (BP) to be
supported is well-structured and there is no need for ad hoc deviations
at run-time. As only few BPs are static in this sense, this
significantly limits the applicability of current workflow (WF) technology.
On the other hand, to support dynamic deviations from
premodeled task sequences must not mean that the responsibility for
the avoidance of consistency problems and run-time errors is
now completely shifted to the (naive) end user. In this paper we present
a formal foundation for the support of dynamic structural
changes of running WF instances. Based upon a formal WF model (ADEPT),
we define a complete and minimal set of change
operations (ADEPTflex) that support users in modifying the structure
of a running WF, while maintaining its (structural)
correctness and consistency. The correctness properties defined by
ADEPT are used to determine whether a specific change can
be applied to a given WF instance or not. If these properties are violated,
the change is either rejected or the correctness must be
restored by handling the exceptions resulting from the change. We discuss
basic issues with respect to the management of
changes and the undoing of temporary changes at the instance level.
Recently we have started the design and implementation of
ADEPTworkflow, the ADEPT workflow engine, which will make use of the
change facilities presented in this paper. Keywords:
Workflow Management, Exception Handling, Dynamic Change, Adaptive Workflows
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Remarks:
Enter remarks here
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Inserted/Last update:
19.01.98