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Workflow Model Analysis

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Encyclopedia of Database Systems

Definition

The correctness, effectiveness, and efficiency of the business processes supported by a workflow management systems are vital to the organization. A workflow process definition which contains errors may lead to angry customers, back-log, damage claims, and loss of goodwill. Flaws in the design of a workflow definition may also lead to high throughput times, low service levels, and a need for excess capacity. This is why it is important to analyze a workflow process definition before it is put into production.

In order to analyse a workflow definition, it is necessary to translate the definition into a model suitable for analysis, e.g., a simulation model or a model that allows for verification techniques (e.g., a Petri net).

Key Points

Process-aware information systems are driven by process models. A typical example of a process-aware information system is a system generated using workflow management software. In such cases there is an explicit process model that can be used...

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Recommended Reading

  1. Marsan M.A., Balbo G., and Conte G. et al. Modelling with generalized stochastic Petri nets. Wiley Series in Parallel Computing. Wiley, New York, NY, USA, 1995.

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  2. W. and Reisig G. (eds.) Rozenberg Lectures on Petri Nets I: Basic Models. LNCS. 1491. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, 1998.

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  3. van der Aalst W.M.P. The application of Petri nets to workflow management. J. Circ. Syst. Comput., 8(1):21–66, 1998.

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  4. van der Aalst W.M.P. and van Hee K.M. Workflow Management: Models, Methods, and Systems. MIT, Cambridge, MA, 2004.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands

    W. M. P. van der Aalst

Authors
  1. W. M. P. van der Aalst
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. College of Computing, Georgia Institute of Technology, 266 Ferst Drive, 30332-0765, Atlanta, GA, USA

    LING LIU (Professor) (Professor)

  2. Database Research Group David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, N2L 3G1, Waterloo, ON, Canada

    M. TAMER ÖZSU (Professor and Director, University Research Chair) (Professor and Director, University Research Chair)

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© 2009 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

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van der Aalst, W. (2009). Workflow Model Analysis. In: LIU, L., ÖZSU, M.T. (eds) Encyclopedia of Database Systems. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-39940-9_1476

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