Babes-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca
Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science
Study Cycle: Master

SUBJECT

Code
Subject
MID1008 Workflow Systems
Section
Semester
Hours: C+S+L
Category
Type
Component-Based Programming
3
2+1+0
speciality
optional
Teaching Staff in Charge
Prof. PÂRV Bazil, Ph.D.,  bparvcs.ubbcluj.ro
Aims
• To introduce the notions of ‘workflow’, and workflow system.
• To analyze several workflow case studies in order to emphasize the advantages of separation of workflow from business logic.
• To emphasize the relation between workflow technology and business processes management
• To present the workflow reference model BPR / BPEL
• To presents the most important workflow patterns.
• To present several concrete solutions for workflow modeling.
Content
1. Introduction.
1.1 Terminology.
1.2 Definitions.
1.3 Workflow concept evolution
1.4 Primitive elements: object, task, transfer, resource, attribute, rule, route
2. Workflow classifications
2.1 Document-centric / object-centric / solution-centric
2.2 Ad-Hoc / Production / Administrative
2.3 Horizontal vs. Vertical
2.4 Embedded/ Stand Alone
3. Workflow basic building block structures
3.1 Sequential
3.2 Forked
3.3 Iterative
3.4 Asynchronous
4. The workflow reference model
4.1 Workflow Reference Model Diagram
4.2 Workflow Enactment Services
4.3 Process Definition
4.4 Workflow Client Functions
4.5 Invoked Application Functions
4.6 Workflow Interoperability
4.7 System Administration & Monitoring
4.8 WAPI Structure, Protocol, and Conformance
5 Business Process Management
5.1 Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN)
5.2 Business Process Execution Language (BPML)
6. Workflow patterns
6.1. Basic Control Patterns
6.2. Advanced Branching and Synchronization Patterns
6.3. Structural Patterns
6.4. Multiple Instances (MI)
6.5. State-based patterns
6.6. Cancellation Patterns
7. Workflow systems modeling
7.1 Activity diagrams
7.2 Petri nets
8. Case studies
References
1. Wil van der Aalst, Kees van Hee: Workflow Management: Models, Methods, and Systems, B&T, ISBN 0-262-72046-9
2. van Der Aalst, Hofstede, Arthur H.M.; Kiepuszewski, Bartek; Barros, Alistair P. (2003). $Workflow Patterns$. Distributed and Parallel Databases 14: 5--51.
3. Layna Fischer: Workflow Handbook 2005, Future Strategies, ISBN 0-9703509-8-8
4. BPMN Specification http://www.bpmn.org/
5. Stephen A. White, Introduction to BPMN - IBM May 2004
6. Workflow Reference Model http://www.wfmc.org/standards/referencemodel.htm
7. UML specification, http://www.omg.org/technology/documents/formal/uml.htm
8. Peterson, James L. (1977). $Petri Nets$. ACM Computing Surveys 9 (3): 223–252.
9. T. Murata, Petri Nets: Properties, Analysis and Applications Proceedings of the IEEE, Vol. 77, No 4, April, 1989, pp. 541-580.
Assessment
The final mark will cover lab work (i.e. completing a project) and research work (preparing a research paper), as well as the written exam results. It is computed as follows, on a 10-point scale, 1pt by default:
• 10% attendance
• 20% the project
• 20% the paper
• 40% the written exam.
Links: Syllabus for all subjects
Romanian version for this subject
Rtf format for this subject