Workflow analysis using attributed metagraphs

Graph theoretic methods for analyzing workflows and processes can provide insight into important problems in process design, and can help in the design of effective workflows. In particular, representation of workflows as metagraphs has been shown to provide a useful basis for formal analysis of processes and workflows. We show how attributed metagraphs can be used to analyze workflows that have tasks with specified temporal constraints. In particular, we show how we can identify time-critical tasks and critical paths through workflows, which generalize traditional network scheduling (PERT/CPM) methods used in project management.

[1]  Andrew B. Whinston,et al.  The Calculus of Reengineering , 1996, Inf. Syst. Res..

[2]  Patrick T. Harker,et al.  Designing Workflow Coordination: Centralized Versus Market-Based Mechanisms , 1999, Inf. Syst. Res..

[3]  Robert W. Blanning,et al.  The Analysis of Assumptions in Model Bases Using Metagraphs , 1998 .

[4]  Avraham Shtub,et al.  Metagraphs in hierarchical modeling , 1997 .

[5]  Joseph J. Moder,et al.  Project Management With Cpm, Pert and Precedence Diagramming , 1983 .

[6]  Layna Fischer.  New Tools for New Times: The Workflow Paradigm , 1994 .

[7]  M. Malone.  The Virtual Corporation , 1993 .

[8]  Kenneth D. Mackenzie,et al.  Processes and Their Frameworks , 2000 .

[9]  Hubert Oesterle,et al.  A Process-oriented Approach to Business Networking , 2000 .

[10]  Setrag Khoshafian,et al.  Introduction to Groupware, Workflow, and Workgroup Computing , 1995 .

[11]  M. Lynn.  Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences , 1996 .

[12]  Kevin Crowston,et al.  Tools for inventing organizations: toward a handbook of organizational processes , 1993, [1993] Proceedings Second Workshop on Enabling Technologies@m_Infrastructure for Collaborative Enterprises.

[13]  Ronni T. Marshak.  Workflow: applying automation to group processes , 1995 .

[14]  Robert W. Blanning,et al.  Metagraphs: a tool for modeling decision support systems , 1994 .

[15]  Thomas H. Davenport,et al.  Process Innovation: Reengineering Work Through Information Technology , 1992 .

[16]  Richard Bolton,et al.  The industrial virtual enterprise , 1997, CACM.

[17]  Robert W. Blanning,et al.  Model Integration Using Metagraphs , 1994, Inf. Syst. Res..

[18]  Bill Curtis,et al.  Process modeling , 1992, CACM.

[19]  P. R. Balasubramanian,et al.  Dynamic workflow management: a framework for modeling workflows , 1997, Proceedings of the Thirtieth Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences.

[20]  Robert W. Blanning,et al.  A Formal Approach to Workflow Analysis , 2000, Inf. Syst. Res..