Workflow Models: Management and Quality of Process in the Cloud

Abstract

It is important to implement a continuous improvement when analyzing the life cycle of Business Process (BP). As a result, organizations are searching for tools like Business Process Management (BPM) using Business Process Management System (BPMS). The Workflow Management System (WfMS) is the most significant BPMS that is used to automatically improve the business process. Organizations require virtual business process on the Internet through cloud computing. WfMS provides computational support to define, synchronize and execute activities using workflows. There are many desirable operational aspects to implement workflow technology, such as task sequence, control and monitoring mechanisms. Workflow allows automation of different aspects of the information flow, for example: address the work in the correct sequence, provide data and document access, and manage the executable condition of the process. Thus Internet conceptual model in the cloud becomes workflow technology by transforming: a) actions into activities or sub process, b) information into data between activities, and c) actors in agents. Another fundamental aspect in a workflow process is measuring the most relevant elements, and detecting process areas that can be improved. Under these considerations, we proposed a framework to analyze and measure workflow process. This framework helps to improve and keep the maintenance of models and processes. All executing business process has an underlying workflow, and given the increasing work in the cloud, we applied this framework for evaluating workflow processes in the cloud. The framework helps to evaluate, compare and improve the workflow and, as a result, leads to the improvement of the processes.