Support for exception handling through workflow management systems

Standardization of business processes is achieved by using workflow management systems (WMS). Generally, a business process executed by a WMS is well structured, however, there are scenarios where the corresponding process model does not support the efficient handling of the business process. Whenever the properties of the actual business process differ from the underlying assumptions of the business process model, an exception occurs. In short, an exception is the result of a gap between process definition and the requirements of a specific business case. The result of the discussion on adaptive workflow are mechanisms and concepts aimed at increasing the flexibility of WMS. In general terms, higher flexibility of WMS can be achieved by choice (between several process alternatives which are available in the process model) and by adaptation (of processes at run-time). Hence, workflow definition and workflow execution are the two crucial starting points when thinking of flexible WMS. In the following, the paper will provide a set of scenarios on how WMS can be improved in the future by focusing on these two issues.