Interactive Workflow Mining

Abstract

Workflow or process mining is concerned with deriving a workflow model from observed behavior described in a workflow log. Experience from applying our workflow mining system InWoLvE in experiments and practical applications has shown that workflow mining is a highly interactive process. The mining expert iteratively approaches the result by varying the parameters of the mining tool and verifying the mined models. Our tool InWoLvE was not designed for intensive interactive usage making practical usage more than difficult. In this contribution we describe the main requirements for an interactive workflow mining system and how we derived these. We outline two selected concepts: a special layout algorithm that is stable against small changes of the model thus allowing the workflow mining expert to maintain a mental map of the workflow and a validation procedure helping the mining expert in his decision for the final result. These and other important concepts have been implemented in the first prototype of an interactive workflow mining system called ProTo. © Springer-Verlag 2004.