The State of the Art in Workflow: Standards, Tools, & Integration Strategies
Platinum Solution at Software Development Best Practices
Workflow is the automation of a process during which documents, information or tasks are passed from one participant to another for action, according to a set of rules. This definition could apply to almost any non-trivial enterprise system. Developers now have the benefit of emerging workflow standards, and can choose from many powerful tools and engines. So why are most developers still “rolling their own” workflow systems within their applications? The truth is, workflow solutions can be complex and difficult to integrate, leading many developers to avoid the technology. However, there comes a “tipping point” were the benefits that workflow provides outweigh its complexity. In this presentation, Platinum Solution will discuss workflow standards, will review and demonstrate OSS and commercial workflow engines, and will discuss where and when workflow makes sense. We will also discuss best practices for integrating a workflow solution into a J2EE environment while minimizing “vendor lock-in” and avoiding workflow pitfalls.
The State of the Art in Workflow presentation was delivered at Software Development Best Practices Confrence at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, MA on September 29, 2005.