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Schedule-Aware Workflow Management Systems

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Transactions on Petri Nets and Other Models of Concurrency IV

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((TOPNOC,volume 6550))

Abstract

Contemporary workflow management systems offer work-items to users through specific work-lists. Users select the work-items they will perform without having a specific schedule in mind. However, in many environments work needs to be scheduled and performed at particular times. For example, in hospitals many work-items are linked to appointments, e.g., a doctor cannot perform surgery without reserving an operating theater and making sure that the patient is present. One of the problems when applying workflow technology in such domains is the lack of calendar-based scheduling support. In this paper, we present an approach that supports the seamless integration of unscheduled (flow) and scheduled (schedule) tasks. Using CPN Tools we have developed a specification and simulation model for schedule-aware workflow management systems. Based on this a system has been realized that uses YAWL, Microsoft Exchange Server 2007, Outlook, and a dedicated scheduling service. The approach is illustrated using a real-life case study at the AMC hospital in the Netherlands. In addition, we elaborate on the experiences obtained when developing and implementing a system of this scale using formal techniques.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Information Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, NL-5600 MB, Eindhoven, The Netherlands

    Ronny S. Mans & Wil M. P. van der Aalst

  2. Carba-Tec Pty Ltd, 128 Ingleston Rd, Wakerley, QLD, 4154, Australia

    Nick C. Russell

  3. Department of Quality Assurance and Process Innovation, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, P.O. Box 2260, NL-1100 DD, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Ronny S. Mans, Arnold J. Moleman & Piet J. M. Bakker

Authors
  1. Ronny S. Mans
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  2. Nick C. Russell
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  3. Wil M. P. van der Aalst
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  4. Arnold J. Moleman
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  5. Piet J. M. Bakker
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Computer Science, University of Aarhus, Faculty of Science, IT-parken, Aabogade 34, 8200, Aarhus N, Denmark

    Kurt Jensen

  2. Computer Science Department, University of Turin, Corso Svizzera 185, 10149, Turin, Italy

    Susanna Donatelli

  3. School of Computing Science, Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle University, NE1 7RU, UK

    Maciej Koutny

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Mans, R.S., Russell, N.C., van der Aalst, W.M.P., Moleman, A.J., Bakker, P.J.M. (2010). Schedule-Aware Workflow Management Systems. In: Jensen, K., Donatelli, S., Koutny, M. (eds) Transactions on Petri Nets and Other Models of Concurrency IV. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 6550. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-18222-8_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-18222-8_6

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-18221-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-18222-8

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