A CONCEPTUAL MODEL OF PROCESS ADAPTATION INAGENT-BASED WORKFLOW MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

摘要

This paper presents a conceptual design an agent-based workflow management system capable of adapting tornthe underlying structure of the business process through the use of organizational self-design. This designrnapproach ipbridges the gapli between designs based on centralized or decentralized coordination structuresrnand provides a synthesis of these two structural extremes. Perhaps less tangible, but of no less significance,rnare contributions to the understanding of the temporal role of hierarchy within intelligent workflowrnmanagement systems. At the core of this research is an examination of the role of hierarchy within therncoordination structure of intelligent workflow management systems and the feasibility of developing a systemrnthat is capable of altering the hierarchy in response to the business process.