| With the popularization of computer network since 1990s, numerous of various products of workflow appeared. Regard to the prosperity of workflow products, the development of theoretical research on workflow seems lagged behind, especially in workflow modeling. There is no a unified solution in workflow modeling, which leads to the incompatibility among workflow products. Most of present workflow models lack formal definitions. So it is difficult to support the analysis on correctness and validity of process.Responding to the current situation, this paper suggests a new way which divides the workflow modeling into two different layers: descriptive language layer and process logic layer, and then it analyses the goals and main ideas of the two layers. Furthermore, it explains how to support the compatibility among different products. At last, this paper makes a classification for the main workflow modeling technologies based on the two layers.Based on the two-layers and present workflow modeling technologies this paper provides a new workflow model—XOP-WFM(Object Petri-Net Workflow Model Based on XPDL). The model adopts the XPDL standard at descriptive language layer, and combines object-oriented modeling technology and Petri-net theory at process logic layer. With the theory of Petri-net the XOP-WFM confirms the exactness of process model to support the analyses on correctness and validity of process; with the object-oriented technology and rule mechanism it confirms flexibility and reuse of model; it also confirms the practicability of the model by means of XPDL standard.In order to secure the rationality and feasibility of the XOP-WFM model, this paper designs and realizes a workflow-modeling tool—XOP-Flow. After comparing it with other workflow models, the results indicate that the XOP-WFM not only has a rigid formalized definition, compatibility as well as readability, but also it supports the analyses on correctness of process, and reduces the complexity of workflow modeling.
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