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Data & Knowledge Engineering
Volume 53, Issue 2, May 2005, Pages 129-162
 
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doi:10.1016/j.datak.2004.07.003    How to Cite or Link Using DOI (Opens New Window)
Copyright © 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Case handling: a new paradigm for business process support

Wil M.P. van der Aalsta, Corresponding Author Contact Information, E-mail The Corresponding Author, Mathias Weskeb, E-mail The Corresponding Author and Dolf Grünbauerc, E-mail The Corresponding Author

aDepartment of Technology Management, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, NL-5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands bHasso Plattner Institute for Software Systems Engineering, Prof.-Dr.-Helmertstrasse 2-3, 14482 Potsdam, Germany cPallas Athena, P.O. Box 747, NL-7300 AS, Apeldoorn, The Netherlands

Available online 21 August 2004.

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Abstract

Case handling is a new paradigm for supporting flexible and knowledge intensive business processes. It is strongly based on data as the typical product of these processes. Unlike workflow management, which uses predefined process control structures to determine what should be done during a workflow process, case handling focuses on what can be done to achieve a business goal. In case handling, the knowledge worker in charge of a particular case actively decides on how the goal of that case is reached, and the role of a case handling system is assisting rather than guiding her in doing so. In this paper, case handling is introduced as a new paradigm for supporting flexible business processes. It is motivated by comparing it to workflow management as the traditional way to support business processes. The main entities of case handling systems are identified and classified in a meta model. Finally, the basic functionality and usage of a case handling system is illustrated by an example.

Keywords: Case handling; Workflow management systems; Adaptive workflow; Flexibility; Business process management

Article Outline

1. Introduction
1.1. Context
1.2. Terminology
1.3. Four problems
1.4. Blind surgeon metaphor
1.5. Case handling
1.6. Outline
2. The case handling paradigm
3. The case handling meta model
4. A formal framework for case handling
4.1. Case definition
4.2. Dynamics
4.3. Other aspects
5. FLOWer
6. Applications of case handling
7. Related work
8. Conclusions
Acknowledgements
References
Vitae















 
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