BPM Research Seminar Series 2007

Configurable Workflow Models

Florian Gottschalk

Abstract

Workflow modelling languages allow for the specification of executable business processes. They, however, do typically not provide any guidance for the adaptation of workflow models, i.e. they do not offer any methods or tools explaining and highlighting which adaptations of the models are feasible and which are not. Motivated by Configurable Event-Driven Process Chains (C-EPCs) as a first approach towards an adaptable process modelling language, we derived general concepts for process model configuration from concepts of inheritance of dynamic behaviour, namely blocking and hiding. Using these concepts, a general approach for the identification of configurable elements of a workflow model and the creation of configurable workflow modelling languages will be presented. By identifying the configurable elements within YAWL and by the derivation of a "configurable YAWL" (C-YAWL) notation, an example implementation of the approach will be depicted. The talk will conclude with sketching issues that are on the agenda for Florian's stay at QUT, e.g. the usage of configuration models for configuring configurable process models, and the problem of ensuring soundness during the process model.