Process Life Cycle

Synonyms

Process state model; Thread lifecycle; Workflow lifecycle

Definition

The stages of life from the start to the end of a process instance within the context of workflow management.

Key Points

The Process Life Cycle represents the stages of a process instance as it evolves from instantiation to termination. This life cycle is most closely related to the life cycle of a thread, and is distinct from the life cycle approach to Business Process Management initiatives, involving an iterative or recursive evolution through the five stages of design, modeling, execution, monitoring, and optimization.

The latter notion of Business Process Management Life cycle is associated with the discipline of continuous process improvement, whereby processes are never deemed “complete” and thus no longer subject to change, but rather are continuously improved through multiple instances of execution, examination, and modification. In contrast, the Process Life Cycle as defined herein refers to the...