Modeling uncertainty in declarative artifact-centric process models using fuzzy logic

Abstract

In many business processes, knowledge workers collect information and make decisions about business entities. Artifact-centric process (ACP) models have been proposed to represent such knowledge-intensive processes. Declarative ACP models use precise business rules to define flexible process executions. However, in many business situations knowledge experts have to deal with uncertainty and vagueness. Currently, how to deal with such situations cannot be expressed in declarative ACP models. We propose to use the fuzzy logic framework to model uncertainty in such models. Using Guard-Stage-Milestone (GSM) schemas as declarative ACP notation, we show how GSM schemas can be adapted for modeling gradual progress of real-life knowledge-intensive processes via a fuzzy logic interface. We evaluate the proposed fuzzy GSM schemas in real-life scenarios of airport ground operations and healthcare services.