What are some good programming frameworks for Business Process Modeling / Workflow modeling?

Question

I'm looking for a framework that models business workflows, it doesn't matter what language, just so it is "enterprise ready".

A single business workflow might look something like this:

- from MAPPING OF BUSINESS PROCESS MODELS TO WORKFLOW SCHEMATA – AN EXAMPLE USING MEMOORGML AND XPDL

A Business Process Modeling / Workflow modeling framework might turn a diagram like this into an actual web application or change the way a web application operates by moving a few of the nodes in the model around.

I've seen similar things done in Sharepoint before where input into the system might start one of these workflows, and multiple employees along the way may be required to give their input to help the workflow determine what step is next or when the workflow might end.

Answer 1

I am not familiar with the standard displayed in your example. However, process modeling tools are many. Some use static diagrams (e.g VISIO and the likes) and some can generate code (see links below to name a few). One of the most used standards in processes modeling is the Business Process Modeling (BPMN 2.0. Once you define the conceptual process in BPMN an automated transformation is performed via the modeling tool to a Logical Process Model using BPEL specification (the two notations are not 100% compatible!), you then generate code from BPEL during the deploy process. The generated application is usually based on the SOA architecture. It may be worth noting that some vendors like Microsoft, don't use this style (for MS SharePoint extensions see: HarePoint Softare).

In addition to IBM and Oracle, some leading vendors in this space are:

• Bonita Soft

• Intalio Create

• Software-AG-ARIS

Answer 2

Did you consider a implementation of statemachine which may substitute heavy workflow engines? Here you are some references to look:

• How to write state machines with c#?
• MSDN - Tutorial: Create a State Machine Workflow