Inhaltsangabe:Abstract: Conventional workflow management focuses on improving the efficiency of business processes within one organization. However, processes should not only be supported within the enterprise, but also when crossing organizational boundaries, e.g. in order to support new forms of collaborations as virtual enterprises. Due to the different nature of interorganizational workflows, conventional workflow technology cannot be directly applied. The most important requirement specific to interorganizational workflow systems is obviously that they are able to deal with heterogeneity and that it is not too expensive to achieve interoperability. Also maintaining the privacy of internal processes is a major concern, and security issues should be addressed. This diploma thesis gives an introduction to conventional and interorganizational workflow management, their aspects and concepts. It elaborates the requirements relevant for interorganizational workflow systems, describes the most important approaches, projects, and initiatives that currently exist in the area of interorganizational workflows, including XML-based approaches, the standards of the WfMC, electronic marketplaces and electronic contracting. An evaluation of these approaches based on criteria derived from the requirements and other characteristics shows the differing strengths and weaknesses. The XML-based approaches provide standards for the process interfaces, and can cope with heterogeneous environments very well. Some of them even allow spontaneous commerce with new trading partners without custom integration. Traditional EDI is in principle similar, but has many disadvantages. The standards of the WfMC enable integration with a very low effort, if they are followed by software providers. But privacy and security are potential problem areas and the models of interoperability that realistically can be supported are simple. Electronic marketplaces and electronic contracting are ideal, if a high number of business partners has to be supported and the services are chosen dynamically depending on the situation. But these services have to be comparable with rather simple interfaces. Inhaltsverzeichnis:Table of Contents: 1.Introduction1 2.Workflow Management4 2.1Requirements on WfMSs6 2.2Workflow Modeling8 2.2.1The Functional Aspect: Workflows and Activities8 2.2.2The Operational Aspect: Applications9 2.2.3The Behavioral Aspect: Control Flow10 2.2.4The Informational [...]

This book offers a comprehensive introduction to workflow management, the management of business processes with information technology. By defining, analyzing, and redesigning an organization's resources and operations, workflow management systems ensure that the right information reaches the right person or computer application at the right time. The book provides a basic overview of workflow terminology and organization, as well as detailed coverage of workflow modeling with Petri nets. Because Petri nets make definitions easier to understand for nonexperts, they facilitate communication between designers and users. The book includes a chapter of case studies, review exercises, and a glossary. A special Web site developed by the authors, www.workflowcourse.com, features animation, interactive examples, lecture materials, exercises and solutions, relevant links, and other valuable resources for the classroom.

A comprehensive introduction to 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.

Four questions determine whether a company is using interorganizational cost management. Does your firm set specific cost-reduction objectives for its suppliers? Does your firm help its customers and/or suppliers find ways to achieve their cost-education objectives? Does your firm take into account the profitability of its suppliers when negotiating component pricing with them? Is your firm continuously making its buyer-supplier interfaces more efficient? If the answer to any of these questions is ""no"", your firm risks introducing products that cost too much or are not competitive. The full potential of the supply network can be realized only when the entire supply chain adopts interorganizational cost management practices. Competitive pressure has led many firms to try to increase the efficiency of supplier firms through interorganizational cost management systems, a structured approach to coordinating the activities of firms in a supplier network to reduce the total costs in the network. It is particularly important to lean enterprises for two reasons: Lean enterprises typically outsource more of the added value of their products than their mass producer counterparts. Lean enterprises usually compete more aggressively and must manage costs more effectively. Interorganizational cost management can reduce costs in three ways: through product design, through product manufacture and through cooperative approaches between buyers and suppliers to build smoother interfaces. However, more than just cost management must cross interorganizational boundaries. Suppliers are also a major source of innovation for lean enterprises. Successful supplier networks encourage every firm in the network to innovate and compete more aggressively. Read this book to learn to manage the supply chain to forge competitive advantage while reducing costs.

Enhances libraries worldwide through top research compilations from over 250 international authors in the field of e-business.

"This book aids managers in the transformation of organizations into world-class competitors through business process applications"--Provided by publisher.