WIDE workflow development methodology

The development of workflows (WFs) for complex organizations to be interfaced with existing information systems requires a specific methodological approach to guarantee the benefits and effectiveness of the final results. In fact, the WF should be well integrated in the organization both from the technical and the organizational point of view. While the characteristics of the workflow management system (WFMS) platform adopted in the implementation are relevant to establish the boundary between the WF system and other related applications, it is also important that the analysis and design phases are developed independently of those characteristics. The WF development methodology proposed in this paper starts with an analysis phase based on the Unified Modeling Language (UML), adopted for business process descriptions and business goals. The design phase proposes a pattern-based approach to WF schema design, based on the WIDE (Workflow on an Intelligent and Distributed database Environment) model. This model allows a flexible representation of the exceptions which may occur during WF execution. It also considers the interaction of the WF with external applications and information systems. Finally, the paper briefly discusses the mapping to commercial and prototype WFMSs