Based Three-dimensional Element Model Constructed Of Flexible Workflow

As a branch of the Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW), theworkflow technology is a computerized model that reflects business processes. In1993, the Workflow Management Coalition (WfMC) was formed, which indicates theworkflow technology begins to enter relatively ripe stage. The Workflow ManagementSystem (WfMS) plays an important role to support definition, execution andadministration of the workflow through the computer technology, and to coordinateinformation interaction between the working groups and between the members ofcolony during the course of workflow execution. The typical work pattern of theWfMS is divided into two stages: modeling and running. It means that the workflowis defined with the modeling tool at first, and a certain formalized description isformed, then the definition is explained and carried out with the workflow engine. Butthis work pattern makes the WfMS only suit to the task which course is foreseeableand relatively regular. However, in real application, a lot of workflow is unpredictable,or can only foresee the treatment of some routine situations. In addition, the workflowwill change while running even if it's a regular flow in the past. These require theWfMS has the ability to dynamically adapt to the changes of situation, i.e. flexibility,which has already become an essential performance of the WfMS.In this paper, the flexibility of WfMS is discussed in detail. The main work andcreativity are expressed as follows:1. The rudimentary knowledge of WfMS is introduced, including its definition,function, classification, etc. The workflow architecture, the reference model, and thecommon modeling tools are analyzed. Then the implementation procedure and allkinds of the analytical method of workflow are introduced.2. A three-dimensional workflow meta-model is presented, which is composed ofprocess meta-model, organization meta-model and data meta-model. The processmeta-model is improved from the process meta-model of WfMC, which is added thetable entity to carry out data input in non-automatic activity, and it's transitionconditions is divided according to separation of concerns in order to increaseadaptability of WfMS. Based on analysis of personnel organization in corporation, theorganization meta-model is designed. Its entity is divided into role, organization celland team to meet the needs of business processes to different personnel. Based on theclassification of data resource, data meta-model is designed to realize control datamanagement.3. Analyze the flexibility of workflow including definition, classification and themethod to improve the flexibility of workflow, etc. And then based on thethree-dimensional workflow meta-model, all of the flexible design about processmeta-model, organization meta-model and data meta-model are given separately bycombining the dynamic formal description. After design, the process instance can beinsert, delete and modify to activity according to the need, the personnel organize androle can be appoint or alter at any time while carrying out, and the data can be shielduncertainty ultimately while operating.4. As a management system instance, the HDPDM is provided. And its workflowmanagement is discussed in detail from design to realization including the processmanagement, the organization management and the data management based on theforegoing basic theory.In a word, this paper does some research in the workflow flexibility technology.A flexible and usable workflow system is developed by improving meta-model andcombining the laws of changing. And we hope it could promote the development ofworkflow technology.