A blended workflow approach

Abstract

Semi-structured workflow approaches are being recognised as essential to support collaboration whenever ad-hoc work needs to be performed due to the occurrence of unanticipated events in dynamic environments. However, semi-structured workflows need to balance the support of unexpected situations with guidance for the situations where a standard behaviour is wanted. The blended workflow approach proposes an integration of two distinct workflow specifications, the activity-based specification, which precisely defines how to coordinate work for expected situations, and a goal-based specification, which empowers people to accomplish the business process goals using their tacit knowledge. In this paper we describe the blended workflow approach, illustrate it with an example, and identify the compliance properties that a blended workflow approach needs to have to integrate activity and goal specifications. © 2012 Springer-Verlag.