A policy-based authorization model for workflow-enabled dynamic process management

Although workflow has been widely used to support the modeling and execution of business process, the majority of current workflow management systems are not designed and suited for supporting dynamic business processes. One of the deficiencies is the inability to model realistically the organization of an enterprise to manage the dynamic human-centric business processes. A framework for workflow-enabled dynamic business process management is described in the paper. It includes an organizational model and an authorization model for supporting dynamic business processes. More specifically, authorization policies are expressed in an SQL-like language which can be easily rewritten into query sentences for execution. In addition, the framework supports dynamic integration and execution of multiple access control polices from disparate enterprise resources. Finally, a prototype implementation of the dynamic business process management framework is described.     

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     

Modeling the planning process in advanced planning systems

Whereas much of the modeling literature in supply chain planning addresses the analysis of decision models and presents solution techniques and much of the empirical literature on planning systems such as ERP and APS software addresses implementation challenges from an organizational perspective, research on the modeling process of capturing the planning process in planning software is very scarce. In this paper, we examine this modeling process. Our approach is based on a normative method for hierarchical planning and presents a case study where this modeling process was used. We analyze the process, relate it to the literature on modeling, and demonstrate the value of the theory in explaining major observations. We conclude that the hierarchical premise on which most planning processes are based is very difficult to capture in an advanced planning system, and find that users and organizations essentially circumvent this problem by creating their own workflows, independent of the system’s prescribed one.     

企业组织与过程的优化重构

可重构性是企业管理系统复杂性和响应环境变化 ,以及同其它企业竞争与合作的核心能力 .由于企业是一个复杂的社会 -技术系统 ,组织与过程的优化重构是制造资源优化配置的基础 .本文首先讨论了企业组织重构的影响因素和企业之间组织重构基本形式 .然后 ,本文讨论企业过程优化重构中渐变 /突变方式、建模问题和关联性分析方法 .企业组织与过程的优化重构技术将有效促进供应链管理、动态联盟和网络化制造等的发展     

A fact-oriented ontological approach to human process modeling for knowledge-intensive business services

Modern business environment emphasizes the role of knowledge-intensive business services (KIBS). As well as the enterprises in any other kinds of industries, business process management (BPM) can be a source of core competency for the enterprises in KIBS industry. However, most of the business processes in KIBS are human processes which are collaborative, innovative, and dynamic, which cannot be supported well by current BPM technologies. Human interaction management (HIM) has emerged as an alternative theory to deal with human processes in KIBS. But, the current ways of process modeling and management in HIM have a problem of complexity, especially in terms of realizing its principle of ‘supportive activity management’. This research adopts fact-oriented ontological approach to address this problem. Based on fact-oriented approach, human-friendly condition modeling and state management during supportive activity management can be achieved.     

多Agent流程协同建模研究

流程建模是企业变化管理的基础，企业的网络化，分布化导致流程的复杂化，这给传统的企业建模提出了挑战，基于网络的群组流程建模是有效的解决方法，本质上讲群组建模是群决策的过程，分布式群体决策支持系统的发展为群组建模提供了技术保障，该文给出了一种流程的协同建模系统，为辅助建模小组一致地交流，系统采用了agent技术协调。     

使用ARIS进行动态业务流程建模

为了能够在当今高度竞争的商业环境中生存和发展,企业需要不断改进自身的业务流程。显然,对业务流程进行动态建模可以大大提高项目重新设计的成功可能。本文对利用ARIS进行业务流程进行动态建模做了可行性研究;同时,文章还对业务流程模型的仿真进行了讨论。最后本文给出了一个关于ARIS动态建模应用在保险公司的实例。     

Defining the resource perspective in the development of processes-aware information systems

ContextThe resource perspective has impact on the performance of business processes. However, current Workflow Management Systems (WfMSs) provide disparate support to its implementation and business process modeling languages provide limited capabilities for its definition. Thus, it is difficult to specify requirements regarding this perspective and to select an appropriate WfMS to support them in order to obtain a technological solution aligned with the organizational needs.ObjectiveTo provide support to the definition, implementation, verification and validation of resource perspective requirements in the development of Process-Aware Information Systems (PAISs) based on WfMSs.MethodThe following activities were carried out: (i) identification of resource perspective aspects in executable workflow specifications, (ii) analysis of the elements provided by the BPMN modeling language to represent these aspects, (iii) development of a framework based on BPMN for defining and implementing these aspects by using the extension mechanism provided by this language, (iv) development of a model-driven development method that leverages the framework to develop PAISs, and (v) validation of the proposed framework and method through the development of a tool supporting them, a case study, and the evaluation against the Workflow Resource Patterns.ResultsA framework, a method and a tool that support the definition of the resource perspective in the development of PAISs.ConclusionBy using the proposed framework and method, practitioners are able to: define the resource perspective requirements in conceptual process models, select a WfMS as implementation platform, and define the implementation of these requirements maintaining the consistency between the conceptual process models and the workflow specifications.     

Process-centered knowledge model and enterprise ontology for the development of knowledge management system

Among many enterprise assets, knowledge is treated as a critical driving force for attaining enterprise performance goals. This is because knowledge facilitates the better business decision makings in a timely fashion. However, since knowledge is created and utilized during the execution of business processes, if knowledge is separated from the business process context, it does not lead to the ability to take the right action for target performance.This paper proposes the framework for process-centered knowledge model and enterprise ontology for the context-rich and networked knowledge storage and retrieval required during task execution. The enterprise knowledge object for a process-centered knowledge model is classified into two types: process knowledge and task support knowledge. In the proposed enterprise ontology, which represents major enterprise concepts, and the relationships between them, all domain concepts are related to the “process” concept, both directly and indirectly. As a result, networked and sophisticated knowledge, rather than single-level knowledge, is provided to the participant of unit activity.In order to show the applicability of the proposed framework, a process-centered KMS (knowledge management system) was also developed, which is classified into 3 parts: (1) project management sub-system based on process knowledge. (2) Knowledge management sub-system for maintaining task support knowledge. (3) Infrastructure sub-system which supports the above two sub-systems.     

A comprehensive modeling framework for collaborative networked organizations

Collaborative networked organizations (CNOs) are complex entities whose proper understanding, design, implementation, and management require the integration of different modeling perspectives. A large number of modeling tools and theories that have been developed in other disciplines have a potential applicability in this domain. Therefore, an identification of the most promising approaches is made and mapped into four dimensions of an endogenous perspective of collaborative networked organizations: structural, componential, functional, and behavioral. But a comprehensive modeling of such complex dynamic systems requires also an exogenous perspective, the life cycle dimension, and a stratification of models according to the modeling purpose. Thus a comprehensive modeling framework is therefore proposed as a first step towards the elaboration of a reference model for collaborative networks.     

A framework for virtual enterprise operation management

This paper presents researches on operation management for virtual enterprises (VEs). A virtual enterprise is a temporary alliance of member enterprises (MEs) formed to exploit fast-changing opportunities. During the operation of a virtual enterprise, its constituent member enterprises, which are geographically distributed and organizationally independent, collaborate with each other to execute the whole business process (BP) of the virtual enterprise. With the aim of addressing business integration for virtual enterprises, this paper develops a framework for virtual enterprise operation management. From the viewpoint of business processes, carried out is integral research on business process modeling, analyzing, and managing for virtual enterprises. Both the distributed business process model and the model of the virtual enterprise itself are established. The former provides the functional basis of the virtual enterprise operation, while the latter provides its structural basis. Further, the two models are integrated through the loading from the distributed business process model to the virtual enterprise model. Through such model separation and integration, business process management for virtual enterprises is enacted and business integration for virtual enterprises is achieved.     

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.     

面向CIPS的企业集成化建模技术研究

CIPS是流程性企业实现企业信息化,实现企业各系统的信息集成和过程集成,从而 提高企业市场竞争力的综合自动化系统工程．CIPS的本质是系统集成和技术融合．为了在流 程性企业实现这一目标,急需要一套先进的方法论和支持工具来支持和指导CIPS的规划和实 施．其中,集成化建模技术为缩小CIPS理论研究与CIPS工程实施之间的差距提供了机会,基 于集成化建模理论的建模方法、建模工具和分析工具也能够有效地帮助企业建模理论转化为 可操作的企业模型．本文在分析了CIPS的应用特点及系统构成的基础上对面向CIPS的企业集 成化建模技术发展趋势及其关键技术做了概要性的描述,并对其中的两项较关键的技术进行 了探讨,提出了面向CIPS的企业集成化建模体系结构及面向CIPS的企业集成化建模与仿真过 程框架．面向CIPS的企业集成化建模技术研究为CIPS的理论研究与系统应用提供有利的支持 ．     

工作流系统在离散制造业的应用①

工作流技术通过对企业业务过程建模、业务过程管理和集成,规范企业业务流程,优化和重组企业业务,对促进企业管理规范化和信息化具有重要意义。Windows Work flow Foundation（以下简称WF）为开发基于工作流的应用程序提供了一个通用的框架,通过对WF框架的学习研究,结合在离散制造业的应用,开发了基于工作流的离散制造信息系统,提高了企业的工作效率和经济效益。     

2005 EDOC: meeting the challenges of enterprise computing

An increasing demand for interoperable applications exists, sparking the real-time exchange of data across borders, applications, and IT platforms. To perform these tasks, enterprise computing now encompasses a new class of groundbreaking technologies such as Web services and service-oriented architecture (SOA); business process integration and management; and middleware support, like that for utility, grid, peer-to-peer, and autonomic computing. Enterprise computing also influences the processes for business modeling, consulting, and service delivery; it affects the design, development, and deployment of software architecture, as well as the monitoring and management of such architecture. As enterprises demand increasing levels of networked information and services to carry out business processes, IT professionals need conferences like EDOC to discuss emerging technologies and issues in enterprise computing. For these reasons, what started out as the Enterprise Distributed Object Computing (EDOC) conference has come to encompass much more than just distributed objects. So this event now used the name International EDOC Enterprise Computing Conference, to recognize this broader scope yet also retain the initial conference's name recognition.     

Strategic business modeling: representation and reasoning

Business intelligence (BI) offers tremendous potential for business organizations to gain insights into their day-to-day operations, as well as longer term opportunities and threats. However, most of today’s BI tools are based on models that are too much data-oriented from the point of view of business decision makers. We propose an enterprise modeling approach to bridge the business-level understanding of the enterprise with its representations in databases and data warehouses. The business intelligence model (BIM) offers concepts familiar to business decision making—such as goals, strategies, processes, situations, influences, and indicators. Unlike many enterprise models which are meant to be used to derive, manage, or align with IT system implementations, BIM aims to help business users organize and make sense of the vast amounts of data about the enterprise and its external environment. In this paper, we present core BIM concepts, focusing especially on reasoning about situations, influences, and indicators. Such reasoning supports strategic analysis of business objectives in light of current enterprise data, allowing analysts to explore scenarios and find alternative strategies. We describe how goal reasoning techniques from conceptual modeling and requirements engineering have been applied to BIM. Techniques are also provided to support reasoning with indicators linked to business metrics, including cases where specifications of indicators are incomplete. Evaluation of the proposed modeling and reasoning framework includes an on-going prototype implementation, as well as case studies.     

An integrated data collection and analysis framework for remote monitoring and planning of construction operations

Recent advances in data collection and operations analysis techniques have facilitated the process of designing, analyzing, planning, and controlling of engineering processes. Mathematical tools such as graphical models, scheduling techniques, operations research, and simulation have enabled engineers to create models that represent activities, resources, and the environment under which a project is taking place. Traditionally, most simulation paradigms use static or historical data to create computer interpretable representations of real engineering systems. The suitability of this approach for modeling construction operations, however, has always been a challenge since most construction projects are unique in nature as every project is different in design, specifications, methods, and standards. Due to the dynamic nature and complexity of most construction operations, there is a significant need for a methodology that combines the capabilities of traditional modeling of engineering systems and real time field data collection. This paper presents the requirements and applicability of a data-driven modeling framework capable of collecting and manipulating real time field data from construction equipment, creating dynamic 3D visualizations of ongoing engineering activities, and updating the contents of a discrete event simulation model representing the real engineering system. The developed framework can be adopted for use by project decision-makers for short-term project planning and control since the resulting simulation and visualization are completely based on the latest status of project entities.     

MAMBA: Automatic customization of computerized business processes

Due to recent market challenges organizational researchers have developed a variety of strategies how organizations can continuously survive in highly dynamic, sometimes even hostile environments. One of the most important strategies aims to enhance the flexibility of enterprises through widespread decentralization, while another well-known approach advocates customer orientation through systematic business process (re-) engineering. This paper addresses organizational flexibility and business process orientation from the perspective of information systems. It starts from a requirements analysis which investigates the challenges of contemporary organizational strategies and then proceeds towards an approach that supports the flexible modeling of business processes by linking decentralized organizational procedures. For this purpose a set of process modeling and process interaction operators is defined. These operators also allow to automatically create and customize configurations of computerized business processes. This progress in cooperative information processing technology contributes significantly to the recently emerged concept of the computerized enterprise. The concepts are presented in the context of a banking application, namely the Credit Advisory Subsystem of our banking application MAMBA.     

Reinforcement learning based resource allocation in business process management

Efficient resource allocation is a complex and dynamic task in business process management. Although a wide variety of mechanisms are emerging to support resource allocation in business process execution, these approaches do not consider performance optimization. This paper introduces a mechanism in which the resource allocation optimization problem is modeled as Markov decision processes and solved using reinforcement learning. The proposed mechanism observes its environment to learn appropriate policies which optimize resource allocation in business process execution. The experimental results indicate that the proposed approach outperforms well known heuristic or hand-coded strategies, and may improve the current state of business process management.     

BOM驱动的维修需求和计划业务对象管理框架

高质量的维修服务已成为产品成功与否的最重要因素之一。而维修需求和计划管理是产品维修服务的核心业务。提出了由中性结构和实例结构组成的复合式维修BOM结构,建立和分析了维修需求和计划管理的业务对象模型。在此基础上,提出了维修需求和计划管理的业务对象管理框架。描述了基于此框架进行维修需求和计划管理的过程,并举了一个实例。原型系统和业务逻辑推理的结果表明,该框架对于各种产品尤其是复杂产品的维修业务有很好的灵活性和实用性。