Goals and processes: a task basis for projects and workflows

This paper focuses on the set of group endeavors that exists within the structure of an organization. The environment in which organizations exist is becoming increasingly dynamic. Cooperative tasks are increasing and workgroup computing is becoming more pervasive. There are computer-mediated tools and systems to support organizations' coordination of group endeavors. These systems, however, are incomplete and therefore do not adequately give organizations the flexibility that a dynamic environment requires. The need for unified information systems is looming. The solution is to provide consistent and comprehensive, computer-mediated, shared task support for the coordination of group endeavors in all domains, in dynamic, and increasingly complex environments. Workflow and project management are prototypical of that collaborative use. This paper evaluates workflow processes and projects in order to gain an understanding of requirements that will serve as a conceptual foundation for this cooperative systems environment.