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Workflow Model Analysis

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Encyclopedia of Database Systems

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Definition

The correctness, effectiveness, and efficiency of the business processes supported by a workflow management system are vital to the organization. A workflow process definition which contains errors may lead to angry customers, backlog, damage claims, and loss of goodwill. Flaws in the design of a workflow definition may also lead to high throughput times, low service levels, and a need for excess capacity. This is why it is important to analyze a workflow process definition before it is put into production.

In order to analyze a workflow definition, it is necessary to translate the definition into a model suitable for analysis, e.g., a simulation model or a model that allows for verification techniques (e.g., a Petri net).

Key Points

Process-aware information systems are driven by process models. A typical example of a process-aware information system is a system generated using workflow management software. In such cases there is an explicit process model that can be used...

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Recommended Reading

  1. Marsan MA, Balbo G, Conte G, et al. Modelling with generalized stochastic Petri nets, Wiley Series in Parallel Computing. New York: Wiley; 1995.

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  2. Reisig W, Rozenberg G. Lectures on Petri nets I: basic models, LNCS. 1491. Berlin: Springer; 1998.

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  3. van der Aalst WMP. The application of Petri nets to workflow management. J Circ Syst Comput. 1998;8(1):21–66.

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  4. van der Aalst WMP, van Hee KM. Workflow management: models, methods, and systems. Cambridge, MA: MIT; 2004.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands

    W. M. P. van der Aalst

Authors
  1. W. M. P. van der Aalst
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to W. M. P. van der Aalst .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Georgia Institute of Technology College of Computing, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

    Ling Liu

  2. University of Waterloo School of Computer Science, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

    M. Tamer Özsu

Section Editor information

  1. Dept. di Elettronica e Informazione, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133, Milan, Italy

    Barbara Pernici

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van der Aalst, W.M.P. (2016). Workflow Model Analysis. In: Liu, L., Özsu, M. (eds) Encyclopedia of Database Systems. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-7993-3_1476-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-7993-3_1476-2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-7993-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Computer SciencesReference Module Computer Science and Engineering

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