Workflow

Definition

According to Wiktionary (retrieved 15:32, 29 February 2008 (MET)):

1. A process and/or procedure in which tasks are completed. It may be defined with a flowchart to define actors, actions, results, decisions, and action paths.
2. The rate at which a flow of work takes place

The automation of a business process, in whole or part, during which documents, information or tasks are passed from one participant* to another for action, according to a set of procedural rules. (e-workflow.org, retrieved 15:32, 29 February 2008 (MET)).

In education

Workflow is important in activity-based instructional design models, i.e. both constructivist and modern instructionalist approaches.

See entries about

• CSCL script (there are some recent initiatives to define a common wf language, 2007)
• learning design and the IMS Learning Design specification (using a "play/theatre" metaphor to define workflows).
• Project-based learning (Pedagocial scenarios as workflow design problem)
• C3MS project-based learning model (loosely defined informal workflows)

Tools

See also Groupware.

A workflow management system (WFMS) is a software component that takes as input a formal description of business processes and maintains the state of processes executions, thereby delegating activities amongst people and applications (Byeyens, 2004).

Design languages

• Petri nets
• workflow patterns
• UML (in particular activity diagrams)

List of general toolkits

See The State of Workflow for a list.

• OpenWFE - open source workflow engine. OpenWFE is an Open source WorkFlow Engine. It's written in Java but features access libraries for languages such as Python, Perl, Ruby, C# (.NET), PHP and pnuts. (see below also)

• OpenWFEru is an open source Ruby workflow and BPM engine.

Links

See also/in particular Non-Commercial Web Links (e.workflow.org).

Introductions

• Workflow (Wikipedia)

Associations

• Workflow And Reengineering International Association (WARIA)
• Workflow Management Coalition (WfMC)

• e-workflow.org (sponsored by both WfMC and WARIA)

Bibliography

• Baeyens, Tom (2004). The State of Workflow, webpage, TheServerSide.com. (recommended article)