Workflow Management Coalition
Encyclopedia
Workflow Management Coalition (WfMC) is a consortium
, formed to define standards
for the interoperability of workflow
management systems. It was founded in May 1993 as an offshoot of the Black Forest Group
with original members including IBM
, Hewlett-Packard
, Fujitsu
, ICL, Staffware
and approximately 300 software and services firms in the business software sector.
Since its founding, the use of XML
has become more widespread and today its focus is principally around process definition file interchange, using the standard XPDL
. The other WfMC-created standard in use today is Wf-XML
, an extension of the ASAP protocol. In contrast with BPEL, XPDL
is not a compiled executable programming language, but a process design format for storing the visual diagram and process syntax of business process models, as well as extended product attributes.
was published first in 1995 and still forms the basis of most BPM and workflow software systems in use today. It was developed from the generic workflow application structure by identifying the interfaces which enable products to interoperate at a variety of levels. All workflow systems contain a number of generic components which interact in a defined set of ways; different products will typically exhibit different levels of capability within each of these generic components. To achieve interoperability between workflow products a standardised set of interfaces and data interchange formats between such components is necessary. A number of distinct interoperability scenarios can then be constructed by reference to such interfaces, identifying different levels of functional conformance as appropriate to the range of products in the market.
is to store and exchange the process diagram, to allow one tool to model a process diagram, and another to read the diagram and edit, another to "run" the process model on an XPDL-compliant BPM engine, and so on. For this reason, XPDL is not an executable programming language like BPEL, but specifically a process design format that literally represents the "drawing" of the process definition. Thus it has ‘XY' or vector coordinates, including lines and points that define process flows. This allows an XPDL to store a one-to-one representation of a BPMN process diagram. For this reason, XPDL is effectively the file format or "serialization" of BPMN, as well as any non-BPMN design method or process model which use in their underlying definition the XPDL meta-model (there are presently about 60 tools which use XPDL for storing process models.)
is designed and implemented as an extension to the OASIS Asynchronous Service Access Protocol (ASAP). ASAP provides a standardized way that a program can start and monitor a program that might take a long time to complete. It provides the capability to monitor the running service, and be informed of changes in its status. Wf-XML extends this by providing additional standard web service operations that allow sending and retrieving the “program” or definition of the service which is provided. A process engine has this behavior of providing a service that lasts a long time, and also being programmable by being able to install process definitions.
is given to one person every year in recognition of individual contributions to workflow and BPM standards. This award commemorates Marvin Manheim
who played a key motivational role in the founding of the WfMC.
Consortium
A consortium is an association of two or more individuals, companies, organizations or governments with the objective of participating in a common activity or pooling their resources for achieving a common goal....
, formed to define standards
Standardization
Standardization is the process of developing and implementing technical standards.The goals of standardization can be to help with independence of single suppliers , compatibility, interoperability, safety, repeatability, or quality....
for the interoperability of workflow
Workflow
A workflow consists of a sequence of connected steps. It is a depiction of a sequence of operations, declared as work of a person, a group of persons, an organization of staff, or one or more simple or complex mechanisms. Workflow may be seen as any abstraction of real work...
management systems. It was founded in May 1993 as an offshoot of the Black Forest Group
Black Forest Group
Black Forest Group is a global information technology consortium for standards and usage. Voting members are users from the business, academic and research realms; vendors can join but they cannot vote...
with original members including IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
, Hewlett-Packard
Hewlett-Packard
Hewlett-Packard Company or HP is an American multinational information technology corporation headquartered in Palo Alto, California, USA that provides products, technologies, softwares, solutions and services to consumers, small- and medium-sized businesses and large enterprises, including...
, Fujitsu
Fujitsu
is a Japanese multinational information technology equipment and services company headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. It is the world's third-largest IT services provider measured by revenues....
, ICL, Staffware
TIBCO Software
TIBCO Software Inc. is a provider of infrastructure software for companies to use on-premise or as part of cloud computing environments. TIBCO manages information, decisions, processes and applications in real-time for over 4,000 customers worldwide...
and approximately 300 software and services firms in the business software sector.
Since its founding, the use of XML
XML
Extensible Markup Language is a set of rules for encoding documents in machine-readable form. It is defined in the XML 1.0 Specification produced by the W3C, and several other related specifications, all gratis open standards....
has become more widespread and today its focus is principally around process definition file interchange, using the standard XPDL
XPDL
The XML Process Definition Language is a format standardized by the Workflow Management Coalition to interchange business process definitions between different workflow products, i.e...
. The other WfMC-created standard in use today is Wf-XML
Wf-XML
Wf-XML is a BPM standard developed by the Workflow Management Coalition.Wf-XML is designed and implemented as an extension to the OASIS Asynchronous Service Access Protocol. ASAP provides a standardized way that a program can start and monitor a program that might take a long time to complete...
, an extension of the ASAP protocol. In contrast with BPEL, XPDL
XPDL
The XML Process Definition Language is a format standardized by the Workflow Management Coalition to interchange business process definitions between different workflow products, i.e...
is not a compiled executable programming language, but a process design format for storing the visual diagram and process syntax of business process models, as well as extended product attributes.
Workflow Reference Model
The Workflow Reference ModelWorkflow Reference Model
First published in 1995 the Workflow Reference Model was developed by the Workflow Management Coalition to define a workflow management system and to identify the most important system interfaces. Other WfMC standards make reference to this model.*...
was published first in 1995 and still forms the basis of most BPM and workflow software systems in use today. It was developed from the generic workflow application structure by identifying the interfaces which enable products to interoperate at a variety of levels. All workflow systems contain a number of generic components which interact in a defined set of ways; different products will typically exhibit different levels of capability within each of these generic components. To achieve interoperability between workflow products a standardised set of interfaces and data interchange formats between such components is necessary. A number of distinct interoperability scenarios can then be constructed by reference to such interfaces, identifying different levels of functional conformance as appropriate to the range of products in the market.
XPDL (XML Process Definition Language)
An XML based language for describing a process definition, developed by the WfMC. Version 1.0 was released in 2002. Version 2.0 was released in Oct 2005. The goal of XPDLXPDL
The XML Process Definition Language is a format standardized by the Workflow Management Coalition to interchange business process definitions between different workflow products, i.e...
is to store and exchange the process diagram, to allow one tool to model a process diagram, and another to read the diagram and edit, another to "run" the process model on an XPDL-compliant BPM engine, and so on. For this reason, XPDL is not an executable programming language like BPEL, but specifically a process design format that literally represents the "drawing" of the process definition. Thus it has ‘XY' or vector coordinates, including lines and points that define process flows. This allows an XPDL to store a one-to-one representation of a BPMN process diagram. For this reason, XPDL is effectively the file format or "serialization" of BPMN, as well as any non-BPMN design method or process model which use in their underlying definition the XPDL meta-model (there are presently about 60 tools which use XPDL for storing process models.)
Wf-XML
Wf-XMLWf-XML
Wf-XML is a BPM standard developed by the Workflow Management Coalition.Wf-XML is designed and implemented as an extension to the OASIS Asynchronous Service Access Protocol. ASAP provides a standardized way that a program can start and monitor a program that might take a long time to complete...
is designed and implemented as an extension to the OASIS Asynchronous Service Access Protocol (ASAP). ASAP provides a standardized way that a program can start and monitor a program that might take a long time to complete. It provides the capability to monitor the running service, and be informed of changes in its status. Wf-XML extends this by providing additional standard web service operations that allow sending and retrieving the “program” or definition of the service which is provided. A process engine has this behavior of providing a service that lasts a long time, and also being programmable by being able to install process definitions.
Awards
The Workflow Management Coalition sponsors a two annual award programs. The "Global Excellence in BPM & Workflow Award" is intended to recognize organizations that have implemented particularly innovative workflow solutions. Every year between ten and fifteen workflow solutions are recognized in this manner. The Marvin L. Manheim Award For Significant Contributions in the Field of WorkflowMarvin L. Manheim Award For Significant Contributions in the Field of Workflow
The Marvin L. Manheim Award For Significant Contributions in the Field of Workflow is an industry recognition created by the Workflow Management Coalition in honor of the late Professor Marvin L. Manheim. Professor Manheim was a co-founder of both the Black Forest Group and the Workflow Management...
is given to one person every year in recognition of individual contributions to workflow and BPM standards. This award commemorates Marvin Manheim
Marvin Manheim
Marvin Manheim was co-founder of the Black Forest Group and instrumental in the formation of the Workflow Management Coalition. He was professor at Northwestern University where he has appointments in the Kellogg Graduate School of Management and the ....
who played a key motivational role in the founding of the WfMC.
Further reading
- Wil M.P. van der Aalst, "Business Process Management Demystified: A Tutorial on Models, Systems and Standards for Workflow Management", Springer Lecture Notes in Computer Science, Vol 3098/2004.
- Mike Havey (2005). "Essential Business Process Modeling", 'Chapter Seven. The Workflow Management Coalition (WfMC)', O'Reilly, August 2005 ISBN 0-596-00843-0
- David Hollingsworth (1995). Workflow Management Coalition The Workflow Reference Model WFMC-TC-1003, 19-Jan-95.
- "The WfMC glossary", Workflow handbook 1997, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1997, ISBN 0-471-96947-8