Integrating groupware activities into workflow management systems

Abstract

Computer supported c ooperative work (CSCW) has been recognized as a crucial enabling technology for multi-user computer-based systems, particularly in cases where synchronous human-human interaction is required b etween geographically dispersed users. Workow is an emerging technology that supports complex business processes in modern corporations by allowing to explicitly de ne the process, and by supporting its execution in a work ow management system (WFMS). Since work ow inherently involves humans carrying out parts of the process, it is only natural to explore how to synergize these two technologies. We analyze the relationships between groupware and workow management, present our general approach to integrating synchronous groupware t o ols into a WFMS, and conclude with an example process that was implemented i n t h e Oz WFMS and integrated such tools.Our main contribution lies in the integration and synchronization of individual groupware activities into modeled work ow processes, as opposed t o b eing a built-in part of the work ow WFMS.

Virtual Work Group Collaboration in a Manufacturing Process

“…In addition, with integrating individual synchronous tools such as multi-user editors and virtual whiteboards, into a process executed in a workflow management system (Ben-Shaul & Kaiser, 1996). Other works also referred the integration of same technologies like the scalable middleware framework, which can support high-degree decoupling between workflow and groupware (Shaokun, et al, 2008).…”

Collaboration and coordination in process-centered software development environments: a review of the literature

“…Selection of users based on their attributes (e.g., availability, special skills) is proposed e.g. in [46,47]. In SPADE users may be selected according to 'ownership' of some artifact, e.g., a module being coded.…”

“…Oz [43,53,46,78] was developed at Columbia University as an enhancement to the MARVEL system (Section A.5).…”

A Flexible Infrastructure for the Support of Distributed Learning

“…Our infrastructure is mainly devoted to execute and control these learning designs. To do it, we adopt a solution that allows to combine WFM and Groupware functionalities [11], so we support learning interaction by regulation and mediation mechanisms.…”