Skip to main content
Log in

Workflow-aware attention tracking to enhance collaboration management

  • Published:
Information Systems Frontiers Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Current Workflow Management Systems only capture the start time and end time of tasks and it is difficult for managers to track how much time is actually spent on a particular task if multiple tasks are performed concurrently. Thus, managers may have problems accurately arranging tasks and evaluating costs. In order to facilitate collaboration management in multitasking environments, we propose a workflow-aware attention tracking framework that integrates the concept of attention with workflow models. We first design the meta-model of workflow-aware attention tracking. We further derive seven rules for attention tracking in multitasking collaboration using Object Constraint Language. Based on the rules and meta-model, we develop a procedure for attention rule verification, and present an architecture for workflow-aware attention tracking systems. This research contributes to workflow management by adding attention awareness for collaboration management in multitasking environments.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aalst, W. M. P. van der. (1998). “The Application of Petri Nets to Workflow Management,” Journal of Circuits Systems and Computers (8:1), pp. 21–66.

  • Aalst, W. M. P. van der, and Kumar, A. (2001). “A Reference Model for Team-Enabled Workflow Management Systems,” Data & Knowledge Engineering (38:3), pp. 335–363.

  • Altmann, E. M., and Gray, W. D. (2008). “An Integrated Model of Cognitive Control in Task Switching,” Psychological Review (115:3), pp. 602–39.

  • Altmann, E. M., and Trafton, J. G. (2007). “Timecourse of Recovery from Task Interruption: Data and a Model,” Psychonomic Bulletin & Review (14:6), pp. 1079–84.

  • Basu, A., and Kumar, A. (2002). “Research Commentary: Workflow Management Issues in e-Business,” Information Systems Research (13:1), pp. 1–14.

  • Bui, T., and Sankaran, S. (2001). “Design Considerations for A Virtual Information Center for Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Relief Using Workflow Modeling,” Decision support systems (31:2), pp. 165–179.

  • Cabot, J., & Gogolla, M. (2012). “Object constraint language (OCL): A definitive guide,”. In M. Bernardo, V. Cortellessa, & A. Pierantonio (Eds.), Formal methods for model-driven engineering, lecture notes in computer science (pp. 58–90). Berlin: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Chiu, D., Li, Q., and Karlapalem, K. (1999). “A Meta Modeling Approach To Workflow Management Systems Supporting Exception Handling,” Information Systems (24:2), pp. 159–184.

  • Davenport, T. H., and Beck, J. C. (2000). “Getting the Attention You Need,” Havard Business Review (78:5), pp. 118–126.

  • Davenport, T. H., & Beck, J. C. (2001). The attention economy: Understanding the New currency of business (p. 276). Book, Cambridge, MA: Harvard Business Review Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Delias, P., Doulamis, A., Doulamis, N., and Matsatsinis, N. (2011). “Optimizing Resource Conflicts in Workflow Management Systems,” IEEE Transactions on Knowledge and Data Engineering (23:3), pp. 417–432.

  • Fan, S., Zhao, J. L., Dou, W., and Liu, M. (2012). “A Framework for Transformation from Conceptual to Logical Workflow Models,” Decision Support Systems (54:1), pp. 781–794.

  • Feldman, M., and Pentland, B. (2003). “Reconceptualizing Organizational Routines as a Source of Flexibility and Change,” Administrative Science Quarterly (48:1), pp. 94–118.

  • Georgakopoulos, D., Hornick, M., and Sheth, A. (1995). “An Overview of Workflow Management: From Process Modeling to Workflow Automation Infrastructure,” Distributed and Parallel Databases (3:2), pp. 119–153.

  • Hansen, M., and Haas, M. (2001). “Competing for Attention in Knowledge Markets: Electronic Document Dissemination in a Management Consulting Company,” Administrative Science Quarterly (46:1), pp. 1–28.

  • Kim, G., and Kim, H. C. (2011). “Designing of Multimodal Feedback for Enhanced Multitasking Performance,” in Proceedings of the 2011 annual conference on Human factors in computing systems - CHI 2011, New York, pp. 3113–3122.

  • Majchrzak, A., Ronald, E. R., Malhotra, A., King, N., and Ba, S. (2000). “Technology Adaption: The Case of Computer-Support Inter-Organizational Virtual Team,” MIS Quarterly (24:4), pp. 569–600.

  • Nabeth, T. (2008). “User Profiling for Attention Support at School and Work,” in Profiling the European Citizen: Cross-Disciplinary Perspectives, M. Hildebrandt and S. Gutwirth (eds.), Springer Netherlands, pp. 185–200.

  • Norman, D. a. (1968). “Toward a Theory of Memory and Attention,” Psychological Review (75:6), pp. 522–536.

  • Ocasio, W. (1997). “Towards an Attention-Based View of the Firm,” Strategic Management Journal (18:Summer Special Issue), pp. 187–206.

  • Patten, C. J. D., Kircher, A., Ostlund, J., and Nilsson, L. (2004). “Using Mobile Telephones: Cognitive Workload and Attention Resource Allocation,” Accident; Analysis and Prevention (36:3), pp. 341–50.

  • Rinderle, S., Reichert, M., and Dadam, P. (2004). “Flexible Support of Team Processes by Adaptive Workflow Systems,” Distributed and Parallel Databases (16:1), pp. 91–116.

  • Roda, C., and Thomas, J. (2006). “Attention Aware Systems: Theories, Applications, and Research Agenda,” Computers in Human Behavior (22:4), pp. 557–587.

  • Rosemann, M., and Muehlen, M. Zur. (1998). “Evaluation of Workflow Management Systems-a Meta Model Approach,” Australian Journal of Information Systems (6:1), pp. 103–116.

  • Russell, N., Van Der Aalst, W. M. P., Ter Hofstede, A. H. M., and Edmond, D. (2005). “Workflow Resource Patterns: Identification, Representation and Tool Support,” in Advanced Information Systems Engineering, O. Pastor and J. F. e Cunha (eds.), Springer Berlin Heidelberg, pp. 216–232.

  • Salvucci, D. D., Taatgen, N. A., and Borst, J. P. (2009). “Toward a Unified Theory of the Multitasking Continuum: From Concurrent Performance to Task Switching, Interruption, and Resumption,” in Proceedings of the 2009 annual conference on Human factors in computing systems - CHI 2009, New York, pp. 1819–1828.

  • Smith, H. A., and McKeen, J. D. (2011). “Enabling Collaboration with IT,” Communications of the Association for Information Systems (28:6), p. Article 16.

  • Spink, A., Cole, C., and Waller, M. (2008). “Multitasking Behavior,” Annual Review of Information Science and Technology (42:1), pp. 93–118.

  • Vertegaal, R. (2003). “Attentive User Interfaces,” Communications of the ACM (46:3), pp. 30–33.

  • Wynn, M. T., Reijers, H. A., Adams, M., Ouyang, C., Hofstede, A. H. M. ter, Aalst, W. M. P. van der, Rosemann, M., and Hoque, Z. (2013). “Cost-Informed Operational Process Support,” Lecture Notes in Computer Science (8217), pp. 174–181

  • Zeng, D. D., and Zhao, J. L. (2005). “Effective Role Resolution in Workflow Management,” INFORMS Journal on Computing (17:3), pp. 374–387.

  • Zhao, J. L., Bi, H. H., Chen, H., Zeng, D. D., Lin, C., and Chau, M. (2006). “Process-Driven Collaboration Support for Intra-Agency Crime Analysis,” Decision Support Systems (41:3), pp. 616–633.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lele Kang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Fan, S., Kang, L. & Zhao, J.L. Workflow-aware attention tracking to enhance collaboration management. Inf Syst Front 17, 1253–1264 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10796-015-9565-2

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10796-015-9565-2

Keywords

Navigation