Workflow management issues in virtual enterprise networks

Abstract

Increasing competitive pressure and availability of Internet and related technologies have stimulated the collaboration of independent businesses. Such collaborations, aimed at achieving common business goals, are referred to as virtual enterprise networks (VENs). Though web is an excellent platform to collaborate, the requirements of VENs regarding workflow management systems are in excess those of autonomous organizations. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of numerous issues related to workflow managements in VENs. These issues are discussed in the three phases of virtual enterprise lifecycle: configuration, operation and dissolution; and corroborated by two real case studies of VENs in Australia. © 2011 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.