Dynamic, unstructured processes vs adaptive, ad hoc workflows
The Workflow Management Coalition (WfMC) defined a workflow as follows:
„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.“ (see [Alle00, p. 15]).
Automation and execution in an operational environment are constituent features of workflows (see also [Holl95, p. 6]). As the procedure of the activities of dynamic, unstructured processes can not be determined in advance, these features do not exist in dynamic, unstructured processes. Terms such as “ad hoc workflow” (see eg [Gada08, p. 56 et seq.]) or “adaptive workflow ” (see [Kam+98, p. 1 et seq.]) seem to provide to some extent a “contradiction in terms”. Accordingly, the author of this blog prefers the term “dynamic, unstructured process” (see [Domb11]).
More on this topic can be read in my forthcoming book “Potenziale und Herausforderungen des Geschäftsprozessmanagements im Enterprise 2.0 unter der Berücksichtigung der Dynamik unternehmerischer Systeme” (see [Domb11], http://www.generate-value.com/publications/).
Reference list:
- [Alle00] Allen, Rob: „Workflow: An Introduction.” In: Fischer, Layna (Hrsg.): Workflow Handbook 2001.
Lighthouse Point FL: Future Strategies Inc., 2000, pp. 15-38 - [Domb11] Dombrowski, Boris – Forthcoming Book: “Potenziale und Herausforderungen des Geschäftsprozessmanagements im Enterprise 2.0 unter der Berücksichtigung der Dynamik unternehmerischer Systeme.”
Berlin: Logos Verlag, 2011 - [Gada08] Gadatsch, Andreas: „Grundkurs Geschäftsprozess-Management – Methoden und Werkzeuge für die IT-Praxis – Eine Einführung für Studenten und Praktiker.“ 5. Edition.
Wiesbaden: Vieweg, 2008 - [Holl95] Hollingsworth, David: “Workflow Management Coalition – The Workflow Reference Model.” Document Number TC00-1003, Document Status – Issue 1.1, 19-Jan-95. URL: http://www.wfmc.org/standards/docs/tc003v11.pdf, last verified on January 31, 2011.
Workflow Management Coalition (WfMC), 1995 - [Kam+98] Kammer, Peter J.; Bolcer, Gregory A.; Bergman, Mark: „Requirements for Supporting Dynamic and Adaptive Workflow on the WWW.” CSCW’98 Workshop on Adaptive Workflow Systems Report. URL: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.36.725&rep=rep1&type=pdf, last verified on January 31, 2011 .
University of California, 1998