Workflow exception patterns

Abstract

This paper presents a classification framework for workflow exception handling in the form of patterns. This framework is independent of specific modelling approaches or technologies and as such provides an objective means of delineating the exception-handling capabilities of specific workflow systems. It is subsequently used to assess the level of exceptions support provided by eight commercial workflow systems and business process modelling and execution languages. On the basis of these investigations, we propose a graphical, tool-independent language for defining exception handling strategies in workflows. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2006.