Complex Workflow Processes Research Articles

Analyzing Security Requirements in Timed Workflow Processes

Much attention is being paid to security requirements of workflow processes with authorization policies, e.g., safety properties, liveness properties, separation of duties, binding of duties, and constraints of cardinality. However, existing methods neglect the execution condition of activities and the logical structures among activities along with their time attributes, suffer from low efficiency when checking the security requirements of large-scale and structurally complex workflow processes, and provide no solutions as a response to the violations of various security requirements. Thus, existing methods cannot guarantee the absolute security and smooth execution of such workflow processes. In this article, we propose a security team timed automaton (STTA) based approach to analyzing security requirements in timed workflow processes. First, we construct STTAs for timed workflow processes with authorization policies. Second, security requirements are automatically verified based on STTAs. Third, based on two effective strategies, we provide solutions to violated security requirements, if any. Compared with the existing methods, our approach can not only formally describe and analyze five commonly-viewed and frequently-adopted security requirements for timed workflow processes and dramatically decrease their temporal and spatial complexity for verification, but also provide solutions to the violations of security requirements so as to implement the security management of workflow processes.

Incremental Analysis of Temporal Constraints for Concurrent Workflow Processes With Dynamic Changes

Nowadays, workflow process changes frequently in a fast-changing business environment. When updating a workflow process via some structural changes, one of the most important tasks is to maintain its consistency under temporal constraints. Several approaches have been developed to cope with this issue. However, they are either inaccurate in locating changed parts or inefficient in analyzing temporal constraints owing to their excessive or erroneous estimation of affected portions for the updated workflow processes. Based on a sprouting graph (a graph that records the structure and time information of all paths in a workflow process in advance), this paper proposes a novel approach to analyzing temporal constraints for workflow processes with dynamic changes. First, changed parts are located via affected collaboration execution paths in the new model, i.e., the workflow process after changes. Second, instead of updating all the elements, only necessary (changed) nodes corresponding to the changed parts are updated in the sprouting graph of the original model, i.e., the workflow process before changes. Finally, based on the updated sprouting graph, only affected temporal constraints (the temporal constraints whose partial or all paths are contained in the affected collaboration execution paths) are checked. Compared with the existing works, our approach is applicable and efficient to check temporal constraints for large-scale and complex workflow processes thanks to its much lower time and space complexity.

SFL Algorithm for QoS-based Cloud Service Composition

With the advent of cloud service-based applications and Software as a Service (SaaS), new applications have recently known an increasing use of service-oriented architecture (SOA). This model has allowed computer science and associated industries to build new customized applications, by using the available and the existing cloud services bridged together dynamically to form a complex workflow process with more functionalities. However cloud services with similar and compatible functionalities may be offered by multiple providers but may also be offered at different QoS levels. Hence, to build a composite service with a high QoS, a decision should be made based on end-to-end QoS. This work proposes a new approach, for QoS-aware cloud service composition, which addresses a universal model, with end-toend QoS. It also proposes an effective evolutionary method based on Shuffled Frog Leaping Algorithm (SFLA), which is satisfying global and local constraints. Therefore, in order to evaluate the robustness of the proposed approach, we have evaluated the impact of several parameters that are highly significant in evolutionary methods, such as the impact of the population size, number of candidate services per task and number of criteria. The experimental results show that the chosen algorithm performs better than the ones based on Genetic Algorithm (GA).

Modeling Human-in-the-Loop Security Analysis and Decision-Making Processes

This paper presents a novel application of computer-assisted formal methods for systematically specifying, documenting, statically and dynamically checking, and maintaining human-centered workflow processes. This approach provides for end-to-end verification and validation of process workflows, which is needed for process workflows that are intended for use in developing and maintaining high-integrity systems. We demonstrate the technical feasibility of our approach by applying it on the development of the US government's process workflow for implementing, certifying, and accrediting cross-domain computer security solutions. Our approach involves identifying human-in-the-loop decision points in the process activities and then modeling these via statechart assertions. We developed techniques to specify and enforce workflow hierarchies, which was a challenge due to the existence of concurrent activities within complex workflow processes. Some of the key advantages of our approach are: it results in development of a model that is executable, supporting both upfront and runtime checking of process-workflow requirements; aids comprehension and communication among stakeholders and process engineers; and provides for incorporating accountability and risk management into the engineering of process workflows.

Improving chemotherapy processes with a protocol-based information system: A pre and post-implementation study

BackgroundThe medical application domain has been a great challenge for information technology solutions for decades, especially when the target process has been complex and multidisciplinary such as chemotherapy processes. ObjectiveTo evaluate the impact of a homegrown protocol based information system on the efficiency of chemotherapy workflow processes in an outpatient setting. MethodsA day care unit of the Hematology/Oncology outpatient clinic of Erasmus Medical Center was the setting for this study. The study consisted of comparison of pre- and post-implementation of four workflow efficiency related external indicators: turn-around times of a commonly administered chemotherapy course (Paclitaxel–Carboplatin), chemotherapy course administration postponing rate, the rate of recording course administration time, and patient admission rate of the outpatient clinic. The data was gathered retrospectively from patient charts and information systems’ log files. For the purpose of turn-around-time 109 Paclitaxel–Carboplatin chemotherapy courses of pre-implementation were compared to 118 those of post-implementation. For the other indicators: 247 chemotherapy courses pre-implementation were compared to 324 courses post-implementation. The process maps of pre- and post-implementation were also compared to each other. ResultsThe implementation of the system improved the process by removing repetition and sequencing of the tasks. Following the implementation, chemotherapy postponing decreased by 17.2% (Z=−4.723, P=.000) and there were 5.7% less records with missing administration time (Z=−3.047, P=.002). The admission rate increased 1.9 patient per working day (t(94)=−5.974, P=.000). The overall turn-around-time reduced 18.9min following the implementation (t(169)=3.48, P=.001). In a multivariate multiple regression model the reduction in turn-around time was related to the implementation of the system (Pillai's Trace=0.159, F(4,161)=7.613, P=.000). ConclusionInformation systems based on treatment protocols can reduce communication and synchronization needs between the stakeholders in a complex workflow process. These systems can help reengineering the process and improve workflow efficiency by removing unnecessary sequencing and repetitions of tasks.

E-Discovery revisited: the need for artificial intelligence beyond information retrieval

In this work, we provide a broad overview of the distinct stages of E-Discovery. We portray them as an interconnected, often complex workflow process, while relating them to the general Electronic Discovery Reference Model (EDRM). We start with the definition of E-Discovery. We then describe the very positive role that NIST's Text REtrieval Conference (TREC) has added to the science of E-Discovery, in terms of the tasks involved and the evaluation of the legal discovery work performed. Given the critical nature that data analysis plays at various stages of the process, we present a pyramid model, which complements the EDRM model: for gathering and hosting; indexing; searching and navigating; and finally consolidating and summarizing E-Discovery findings. Next we discuss where the current areas of need and areas of growth appear to be, using one of the field's most authoritative surveys of providers and consumers of E-Discovery products and services. We subsequently address some areas of Artificial Intelligence, both Information Retrieval-related and not, which promise to make future contributions to the E-Discovery discipline. Some of these areas include data mining applied to e-mail and social networks, classification and machine learning, and the technologies that will enable next generation E-Discovery. The lesson we convey is that the more IR researchers and others understand the broader context of E-Discovery, including the stages that occur before and after primary search, the greater will be the prospects for broader solutions, creative optimizations and synergies yet to be tapped.

Modelling and simulation of complex workflow processes using multi-level Petri nets

A method for modelling complex workflow processes using a Petri Net (PN) based multilevel formalism is proposed; it yields modular and hierarchical descriptions of the organisation (or network of organisations), the processes, resource management and user interactions. The models allow the synthesis of agent based software in which mobile agents guide the cases through the organisation units; the software can be interactively executed for simulation purposes or distributed within a computer network for implementing a workflow management system. A tool for editing and simulating the models is presented.

Internet Security: A Novel Role/Object-Based Access Control for Digital Libraries

Internet-based, real-world applications require appropriate security mechanisms because potentially millions of users and their agents (or participants) will access billions of objects of information content in complex workflow processes (e.g., commerce, learning, healthcare). Security is one of the strategic technologies that will increase the value and utility of the Internet and Internet-based applications. Traditional security issues deal with the authentication and authorization of users in network domains. Today there are numerous novel security issues concerning users, information content, and application systems in information domains. Among these, we will consider a novel role/object-based access control mechanism for both participants and objects in workflow processes of information domains. In particular, we will present our implementation of this mechanism for digital libraries.

A Novel Hierarchical Method For Decomposition And Design Of Workflow Models

Modeling and analysis of large and complex workflow processes includes transformation of the process logic into a formal representation. Petri net-based modeling is convenient, but it suffers from ...

Managing Innovation Activity Processes: Part II: Dependency-based Activity Structural Modelling and Its Implications

This paper, Part II is a series of two, presents a modelling framework for large complex innovation activity processes in the context of global fashion marketplaces. The framework draws on the research fields of organisational and industrial management, and applies to global-oriented fashion business activities. Interactivity dependency is treated as a fundamental operational issue within modelling complex workflow processes; it is argued that current management and technological tools do not adequately account for the uncertain consequences stemming from this issue. Several modelling aspects are discussed, including: the process modelling methodology characteristics and their implications to management; and the algorithmic objectives and the types of representation used in different process modelling paradigms in activity process design. On such premises, an improving methodological framework to address these modelling issues is then introduced. Based on the activity structures modelled by the framework, we progress to evaluate innovation activity performance, using an evolutionary algorithmic search strategy to schedule and optimise the expected to-market cycle time. An industrial case regarding the application of the framework is presented. Finally, we conclude with a discussion about an additional concept framework that is generalised for the strategic use of the framework in the context of global fashion business activities.

Diagnosing Workflow Processes using Woflan

Workflow management technology promises a flexible solution for business-process support facilitating the easy creation of new business processes and modification of existing processes. Unfortunately, today’s workflow products have no support for workflow verification. Errors made at design-time are not detected and result in very costly failures at run-time. This paper presents the verification tool Woflan. Woflan analyzes workflow process definitions downloaded from commercial workflow products using state-of-the-art Petri-net-based analysis techniques. This paper describes the functionality of Woflan emphasizing diagnostics to locate the source of a design error. Woflan is evaluated via two case studies, one involving 20 groups of students designing a complex workflow process and one involving an industrial workflow process designed by Staffware Benelux. The results are encouraging and show that Woflan guides the user in finding and correcting errors in the design of workflows. Received 27 September 2000; revised 8 March 2001

Digitisation of exam papers

This paper outlines the practical issues and key stages involved in digitising University of Birmingham exam papers, based on work undertaken as part of the BUILDER project. It emphasises that the main lesson to come out of delivering a Web‐based product consisting of over 1500 digitised exam papers is that the actual scanning is only one stage in a complex workflow process. This paper identifies the key elements in such a process to be feasibility study, digital imaging, IT infrastructure development and project management, and describes the decisions associated with each. It is noted that team working between library, computing and university administrative staff was essential in order to manage the workflow within each of the key elements. Since its launch in November 1998, the exam paper service has been heavily used and the availability of exam papers online now creates the potential for their integration into learning and teaching material within a hybrid library environment.