The evolution towards flexible workflow systems

The simultaneous evolution of personal computing tools and networks has focused attention on the notion of harnessing computer technology to assist in human collaboration on group work. While personal productivity tool technology and use have reached a high level of sophistication, the most basic ideas for how computer technology should assist in collaboration across the network have not yet converged. The approaches range from ones where coordination of work is uniquely human-controlled, to workflow-based approaches where the computer is involved in scheduling the group's work. This survey paper describes how workflow technology has evolved from a modelling focus to flexible model-based systems to support collaborative work across this range of work styles.