Modeling cooperative work processes - a multiple perspectives framework

This article presents a framework, concepts, and notations for modeling cooperative work from different perspectives. The framework is based on the basic notions information, task, and actor, which are modeled individually and in relation to each other. The Cooperation Modeling Technique (CMT) built on these concepts provides notations for representing the different aspects of cooperative work. This results in a flexible approach for representing different analysis perspectives pertaining to the design of cooperation support systems. The method aims at providing abstractions and mechanisms that are targeted not only at structured aspects of work processes but particularly at unstructured and less formalizable cooperation issues. The main focus of the approach is currently on asynchronous forms of cooperation, addressing informational awareness for asynchronous processes. The framework, however, also encompasses synchronous types of cooperation. The development of concrete methods for these aspects is a focus of future work.