Flexible Workflow Management via Dynamic Task Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional workflow systems lack flexibility in design and implementation, particularly in processes that undergo frequent changes or have numerous possible instantiations, which can lead to inefficiencies and difficulties in adaptation.

Innovation Solution

A flexible workflow system is implemented using a process modeling tool that includes a configurable task set with constraints, a constraints validation engine, and a workflow engine to create and execute instance templates, allowing for dynamic assembly and validation of task subsets based on user input and constraints, ensuring compliance with predefined rules.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional workflow systems are used with fixed task sequences, then implementation is simple, but flexibility and adaptability to process changes are poor

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveflexibilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The workflow system transitions from static, pre-defined task sequences to dynamic task assembly where tasks are selected and configured at runtime based on instance-specific constraints and requirements. The task assembly mechanism allows the workflow to adapt its structure dynamically rather than following fixed paths.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The workflow is divided into independent tasks that can be selectively assembled into subsets. Each task can be individually configured, validated against constraints, and included or excluded from the final workflow instance based on specific conditions, allowing modular and flexible process design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If extensive logic rules are applied to ensure proper task completion, then workflow correctness is improved, but system complexity and difficulty of operation increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveworkflow correctnessVSAvoidease of operation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Constraints are pre-defined and validated during workflow design before execution. The system performs preliminary validation of task subsets against constraints before runtime execution, ensuring correctness is established in advance rather than requiring complex logic rules during task completion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The workflow system automatically validates task subsets against defined constraints without requiring manual intervention or complex logic rules from operators. The validation engine self-services by checking constraint satisfaction and ensuring proper task completion automatically.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If redundant constraints are included in the constraint set, then constraint coverage is improved, but constraint validation time and processing overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconstraint coverageVSAvoidprocessing efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts and removes redundant constraints from the constraint set through automated analysis. By identifying and eliminating duplicate or subsumed constraints, the system maintains comprehensive constraint coverage while reducing validation overhead and improving processing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Loss of information

If conflicts between constraints are not resolved, then constraint specification completeness is maintained, but workflow execution fails due to invalid task subsets

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconstraint specification completenessVSAvoidworkflow executability

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection and resolution of constraint conflicts during workflow design and task subset assembly. By identifying conflicting constraints before execution and resolving them through validation, the system ensures workflow executability while maintaining complete constraint specification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS7885840B2System and method of flexible workflow management

Publication Date: 2011.02.08 SAP SE

AI summary

A flexible workflow is described that includes a pocket of flexibility. The pocket of flexibility may include workflow fragments that may be joined together, subject to pre-defined constraints. In implementing the flexible workflow, a user may encounter the pocket of flexibility, and select from the fragments to construct a workflow that is consistent with the user's current needs. The fragments may be incrementally presented to the user on a user interface, such that only those fragments determined to be combinable in a valid way may be selected by the user. In this way, a user who may have little experience with workflow languages or terminology may be able to use the flexible workflow, and be confident that the result is valid. Thus, difficulties in dealing with change in workflow systems may be mitigated, and this mitigation may be achieved without compromising the simplicity and generic nature of a workflow language.