Wide Area Workflow Management

In this volume Gerold Riempp examines the interaction of different workflow management systems (WFMS) in geographically-distributed and legally-separate organisations. This is an emerging field of research known as Wide Area Workflow Management (WAWM). He examines the technical and managerial aspects of workflow management via a framework which he has developed to describe the problems involved in WAWM and to find viable solutions. Based on this theoretical framework, the author also develops a prototype software framework - the Wide Area GroupFlow System - to demonstrate the solutions via practical software tools. The tools will be available to the reader via the WWW. Also included are the results of case studies from some of the 15 developers who have been using this software over the past two years.

Only book to cover technical and managerial aspects of coordinating workflow between organisations Contains a full description of a prototype software framework (developed by the author) demonstrating the theory described in the book The software tools from this framework will be available via the WWW

Inhalt
1 Introduction.- 1.1 Scenario.- 1.2 What is Wide Area Workflow Management (WAWM)?.- 1.3 Aims of this book.- 1.4 Structure.- 2 Case studies.- 2.1 Case study 1: sales activities in an international brewery.- 2.2 Case study 2: collaboration between a large lighting manufacturer and suppliers.- 3 Foundations of computer-aided interaction among widely dispersed office workers.- 3.1 Developments in the application of computer systems.- 3.2 Decentralized collaboration.- 3.3 Process orientation in office work within and between organizations.- 3.4 Technological fundaments.- 4 Workflow management related approaches under aspects of distribution.- 4.1 Classification of workflow management systems.- 4.2 Conceptual approaches.- 4.3 Commercial systems.- 4.4 Discussion of the approaches presented in respect to Wide Area Workflow Management.- 5 Concepts for Wide Area Workflow Management (WAWM).- 5.1 Fundamentals.- 5.2 General characteristics and requirements.- 5.3 Interaction and synchronization of distributed workflow parts.- 5.4 Coordination of WFMSs' interaction three different mechanisms.- 5.5 Aspects of flexibility.- 5.6 Architectural concepts.- 5.7 Models for implementation and continuous improvement of WAWM.- 6 Wide Area GroupFlow System (WAGS).- 6.1 Architecture.- 6.2 Components.- 6.3 Further developments.- 7 Wide Area Workflow Management in practical application.- 7.1 Case study 1: sales activities in an international brewery.- 7.2 Case study 2: collaboration between a large lighting manufacturer and suppliers.- 8 Conclusions and outlook.- 9 Summary.- 10 References.- 10.1 Literature references.- 10.2 Online references.- 11 Indices.- 11.1 Keyword index.- 11.2 Abbreviations.- 11.3 Figures.- 11.4 Tables.- About the author and his team.