Workflow simulation for operational decision support using event graph through process mining

It is increasingly common to see computer-based simulation being used as a vehicle to model and analyze business processes in relation to process management and improvement. While there are a number of business process management (BPM) and business process simulation (BPS) methodologies, approaches and tools available, it is more desirable to have a systemic BPS approach for operational decision support, from constructing process models based on historical data to simulating processes for typical and common problems. In this paper, we have proposed a generic approach of BPS for operational decision support which includes business processes modeling and workflow simulation with the models generated. Processes are modeled with event graphs through process mining from workflow logs that have integrated comprehensive information about the control-flow, data and resource aspects of a business process. A case study of a credit card application is presented to illustrate the steps involved in constructing an event graph. The evaluation detail is also given in terms of precision, generalization and robustness. Based on the event graph model constructed, we simulate the process under different scenarios and analyze the simulation logs for three generic problems in the case study: 1) suitable resource allocation plan for different case arrival rates; 2) teamwork performance under different case arrival rates; and 3) evaluation and prediction for personal performances. Our experimental results show that the proposed approach is able to model business processes using event graphs and simulate the processes for common operational decision support which collectively play an important role in process management and improvement.     

Dwelling time probability density distribution of instances in a workflow model

This paper presents a method to judge whether a business process is successful or not. A business process is deemed successful if a large enough proportion of instances dwell in a workflow (wait and be executed) for less than given period. By analyzing instances’ dwelling time distribution in a workflow, the proportion of instances which dwell in the workflow for less than any given period will be achieved. The performance analysis of workflow model plays an important role in the research of workflow techniques and efficient implementation of workflow management. It includes the analysis of instances’ dwelling time distribution in a workflow process. Multidimensional workflow net (MWF-net) includes multiple timing workflow nets (TWF-nets) and the organization and resource information. The processes of transaction instances form a queuing model in which the transaction instances act as customers and the resources act as servers. The key contribution of this paper is twofold. First, this paper presents a theoretical method to calculate the instances’ dwelling time probability density in a workflow where the activities are structured and predictable. Second, by this method the analysis of instances’ dwelling time distribution and satisfactory degree based on dwelling time can be achieved. The service time of an instance is specified by the firing delay of the corresponding transition (executing time of the corresponding activity). It is assumed that the service request (processing of a transaction instance) arrives with exponentially distributed inter-arrival times and the firing delay of a transition (executing time of the corresponding activity) follows exponential distribution. Then, the instances’ dwelling time probability density analysis in each activity and each control structure of a workflow model is performed. According to the above results a method is proposed for computing the instances’ dwelling time probability density in a workflow model. Finally an example is used to show that the proposed method can be effectively utilized in practice.     

An effective database formation for decision support systems

Managers' tasks have two aspects: to monitor (control) business activities and to plan the future based upon the monitored results. Thus a decision Support System (DSS) must have two kinds of databases appropriate for its needs.A management database, i.e., one for monitoring activities, is constructed mainly from the existing operational databases. A data cube should be employed for the logical data structure of the management database so that managers can share it and access it in multiple ways.Planning databases, i.e., those for planning activities, are constructed mostly from the management database. A table form should be employed for its logical data structure so that managers will find it easy to use.The management and planning databases should be connected through DSS's system architecture [1]. This makes the operational data (indicating business activities) directly and immediately available for management decision making.We have previously presented the DSS architecture. This paper discusses the management and planning databases from the viewpoint of it.     

ObjectFlow: Towards a process management infrastructure

As businesses feel competitive and economic pressures to automate and streamline their operations, they examine their day-to-day business processes and look to business process reengineering pratices to provide solutions. Improved networking capabilities and the widescale adoption of open systems architectures have allowed businesses to tie their information systems together and share data across departments. The challenge now involves coordinating and automating the flow of work between people and groups in an organization. This has prompted the emergence of a new kind of infrastructure, workflow enabler, which provides a model for business processes, and a foundation on which to build solutions supporting the execution and management of business processes. This article examines the technology trends, business benefits, and requirements which have lead to this development. It describes the logical structure and an operational model of an open workflow system, and positions ObjectFlow, a software product, within this framework to illustrate the concepts.     

An agent-based workflow system for enterprise based on FIPA-OS framework

The paper describes what we have learned from implementing a multi-agent architecture used to support enterprise notions and principles for intelligent systems design. In the last couple of years, agent-based management systems have been widely used to monitor and control business design processes. In this paper, multi-agent architecture is proposed and applied to the workflow management system in ASE¹ (Advance Semiconductor Electronic) Inc., which is the world’s well-known largest provider of independent semiconductor for manufacturing services in assembly and test. The proposed FIPA-OS autonomous workflow management system uses a workflow co-ordination mechanism and an agent integration mechanism to enable the routine daily jobs error handle. Our vision for extending the FIPA-OS architectural elements to cover the development and implementation of generic web-Centric collaborative applications concludes the paper.     

An overview of workflow management: From process modeling to workflow automation infrastructure

Today's business enterprises must deal with global competition, reduce the cost of doing business, and rapidly develop new services and products. To address these requirements enterprises must constantly reconsider and optimize the way they do business and change their information systems and applications to support evolving business processes. Workflow technology facilitates these by providing methodologies and software to support (i) business process modeling to capture business processes as workflow specifications, (ii) business process reengineering to optimize specified processes, and (iii) workflow automation to generate workflow implementations from workflow specifications. This paper provides a high-level overview of the current workflow management methodologies and software products. In addition, we discuss the infrastructure technologies that can address the limitations of current commercial workflow technology and extend the scope and mission of workflow management systems to support increased workflow automation in complex real-world environments involving heterogeneous, autonomous, and distributed information systems. In particular, we discuss how distributed object management and customized transaction management can support further advances in the commercial state of the art in this area. Recomended by: Omran Bukhres and e. Kühn     

基于工作流的煤质管理信息系统设计

针对传统的煤质管理信息系统对企业内部各部门之间的业务流程控制缺乏支持的问题,设计了一种基于工作流的煤质管理信息系统;分析了煤质管理的相关业务流程;应用工作流技术对煤质管理进行了流程化设计;针对流动中的煤质数据,提出了安全的访问控制策略;并以某煤业集团的毛煤煤质管理流程为例,采用jBPM工作流引擎辅助实现了该流程的自动化处理。实际应用表明,该系统加强了煤质管理业务流程的支持和控制管理功能。     

基于工作流的工程综合管理系统的设计与实现

随我国经济发展,一些大型工程企业的项目建设不断开展,需要用信息化手段,设计出项目综合管理系统,实现对工程中的项目进度跟踪、信息共享和资源分配。该系统采用工作流设计模式,围绕项目执行过程,对业务流程进行有效管理,以实现工程企业的信息化,提升企业运营决策能力。     

JBPM工作流管理系统的研究与实现

工作流管理系统作为一种满足企业业务流程分布性、重用性和普遍性等要求的软件包,得到了广泛应用。在对比分析主流工作流管理系统的基础上,研究了JBPM工作流管理系统的系统架构、工作过程和开发步骤。结合铁路线路故障报修流程,设计开发了一个故障报修系统,阐述了主要设计思路和实现的关键技术。该系统经过前期应用,表明JBPM工作流管理系统在程序的健壮性与可维护性、流程的并发性与数据的可操作性等方面具有明显优势,能满足业务流程灵活多变的要求,能有效提升线路故障的报修率和修复率。     

From process logic to business logic—A cognitive approach to business process management

The unpredictability of business activities means that business process management should provide a way to adapt to change. The traditional workflow approach, based on predefined process logic, offers little support for today's complex and dynamic business environment. Therefore, a cognitive approach is proposed to help manage complex business activities, based on continuous awareness of situations and real-time decisions on activities. In this approach, the business environment is seen as capturing events that occurred and the state of tasks and resources; business logic involving process routing, operational constraints, exception handling and business strategy is used to determine which actions are appropriate for the current situation. By extending process management from process logic to business logic, the methodology offers flexibility, agility and adaptability in complex business process management.