International Journal of Entrepreneurial Knowledge

John Ndeta ¹, Stamatia A. Katriou ², Kerstin V. Siakas ²

Affiliations
1 London Metropolitan University, Department of Computing, Communication Technology and Mathematics, 166-220 Holloway Road, N7 8DB London, GB
2 Alexander Technological Institute of Thessaloniki, Department of Informatics, P.O. Box 141, GR-57400 Sindos, GR

Abstract

In today's highly competitive and rapidly changing environment, e-businesses constantly have to modify their business processes, i.e. the flow of documents and tasks in a business also known as workflow. More flexible Workflow Management Systems are required to support these constantly changing processes. In this research a platform independent architecture for the design of e-workflow systems is illustrated. The architecture includes an information pool, namely a Workflow Pattern Repository, which contains patterns, which are repeatable solutions to reoccurring problems, in order to make the system more apt to change and assist the workflow designer/user in defining workflows faster and more accurately. The patterns in the repository are in the form of UML activity diagram templates. A straightforward input format for storing patterns in the repository is provided along with an example of its practical application.

Keywords

Workflow, E-workflow, E-Business, Workflow Design Patterns, Pattern Repository, Workflow Architecture, Exceptions.

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