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This report provides the comprehensive framework for the procedural knowledge representation in the ICONS architecture. We believe that this representation should be specified at two, equally important from the knowledge management standpoint, levels. They are process definition level, pertaining to the ICONS knowledge schema, and process instance level, pertaining to the ICONS knowledge base. The detailed conceptual models of both levels are presented. The models introduce all intrinsic elements and mechanisms that are indispensable in the advanced workflow management engine to be incorporated into the ICONS platform. The models constitute a sound base for the ICONS workflow management engine development.
Additionally, the models are the starting points for other representations. The deployment model is for humans and targets aspects related to process development and monitoring. Therefore, the visual notation is proposed to stimulate communication, education and verifiability. The need for processes' visualization on the definition level has been widely accepted and addressed (e.g. recently published Business Process Modeling Notation - BPMN). We postulate, however, to put the equal stress on processes' visualization on the instance level. It allows processes' performers for better understanding the process's history (what was done before, by whom, what were the recommendations, what were the time constraints), presence (what its current state, what are the requirements for the current activity) and future (who will continue the process, what are potential consequences of current decisions). Simply saying, the process instance becomes contextualised and make the performer's knowledge more comprehensive what, in turn, should positively impact productivity.
On the contrary, the interoperability model is for distributed machines. It facilitates both process definition and process continuation even outside scope of the originating organization and workflow engine. Using the proposed approach complex interactions of B2B and B2C types can be defined and implemented. As the critical point with respect to process definition and interoperability are standards the compliance with the most promising standards has been assured (i.e. XML Process Definition language [WfMC-TC-1025], Interoperability Abstract specification [WfMC-TC-1012] and Wf-XML binding specification [WfMC-TC-1023]).
Besides the thorough road map of models, languages and notations this report addresses in depth some areas of workflow management that are still waiting for innovative and effective solutions. We especially mean extensions of existing notations with process instance elements, intelligent workflow assignment, advanced routing and time modeling as well as monitoring.