Workflow in different styles of Virtual Enterprise

Abstract

Because of the many forms a Virtual Enterprise (VE) can take, there is no single model of what type of approach to workflow management is most appropriate. This paper is based on an analysis of the different types of business practice that lead to the formation of VEs. A number of different workflow scenarios are depicted, and four specific issues are then discussed. The first is the recognition of the different life cycle stages of a Virtual Enterprise. The second is the problem of workflow case identifiers across organizational boundaries. The third is the need or otherwise for shared databases to support the different scenarios. The fourth is the question of the protocol for passing work in loosely-coupled workflows. Some ideas for future work are finally proposed.