GroupProcess: using process knowledge from the participative design and practical operation of ad hoc processes for the design of structured workflows

Many of today's companies already have integrated workflow management systems (WFMS) within their IT-infrastructure which are mainly used for the core processes of the company. Furthermore these predefined processes are designed and implemented by specialists, whilst the process knowledge of the involved employees remains mostly unused. The daily business life, especially in office environments, often additionally requires flexible, rather short lived processes (ad hoc workflows), that can only be predetermined in advance to some degree. These two types of workflows have many interdependencies which are inadequately or not supported by currently available WFMS. For example some ad hoc processes that are used more than once and therefore get well tried by practical experience, could become established and important processes for the company. Thus these should be transitioned into predefined workflows in a traditional WFMS. The GroupProcess project examines the broad possibilities to support ad hoc processes in companies and creates connections to existing systems like WFMS, knowledge- and office-management systems.