Workflow Based On J2EE And Its Application In ERP Systems

With the progress of networked computing technologies, the distributivity, heterology, and autonomy of comtemparory enterprise information systems become a common sense, that is, the enterprise information resources are distributed among a heterologous computing envirornment. As a result, the decentralization of decision-making process becomes more obvious, the demand for detailed information of the daily business activities increases evidently, and disutributed computing technologies are widely adopted. In this background, workflow technology enters a new period of distributed processing.This thesis introduces a workflow management system based on J2EE technology, and presents an application of this technology in an ERP system.In chapters one and two of this thesis, we first introduce the motivation and concepts of workflow technology. Then, by concentrating on the common workflow management model introduced by WFMC, we explain the architecture, modeling technology, and process control technology of workflow management system, and state the future of workflow technology.In chapter three, we first introduce the history of distuributed computing technology, and then analyze some popular ones, such as CORBA, COM/DOM and J2EE, these days. Based on this, we show a distributed multi-tier architecuture of workflow management system.In chapter four, by analyzing the functions of workflow engine, we dispart workflow engine to three tiers: user interface tier, process instance tier, and static model tier. After that, we carry out the model ingof workflow engine from four aspects (data model, process model, organization model, and resource model). Futher more, based on J2EE technology, we present an i mp I ementat i on of the mode I of workflow engine. In chapter five, we show an applicat ion of workflow in ERP system. Firstly, the patterns of usage of workflow in ERP system are introduced. After that, corresponding to the EAM module of an ERP system, we show how to use workflow technology in a worksheet management process.