Computer based system for supporting a work process in which some tasks require participation of multiple persons in differentiated roles

Abstract

A computer-based method and apparatus for the analysis, specification and support of work processes. The system is designed to support multiple interdependent decisions, at least some of which require collaboration among multiple participants ( 116 ). Work processes are modeled using an application framework ( 99 ) used to develop abstract, decision ( 100 ) process models. The decision ( 100 ) process models are used as a pattern to instantiate concrete process models that incorporate the work defined by the abstract process. The process model is then used to instantiate project models that incorporate the required work from the process. The project models are used to direct and guide the behavior of the participants ( 116 ) in the work process.

1 - 55 . (canceled)  
   
   
       56 . A method for managing one or more work processes comprising: 
 constructing a computer-based process model of a work process, where the computer-based process model includes two modeled roles for persons participating in a modeled task of the work process;    specifying role behaviors for the two modeled roles, where specification of the role behaviors is without reference to a specific task of the work process; and    using the computer-based process model to support at least one of execution, control, and improvement of the work process.    
   
   
       57 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein: 
 the modeled task is a decision requiring choice from among alternatives; and    the role behaviors for a first modeled role include a right of a first person participating in the first modeled role to make the decision.    
   
   
       58 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the role behaviors for a second modeled role include a right of a second person participating in the second modeled role to veto the decision.  
   
   
       59 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the role behaviors for a second modeled role include a right of a second person participating in the second modeled role to an opportunity to influence the decision.  
   
   
       60 . A method for managing one or more work processes comprising: 
 constructing a computer-based process model of a work process, where the computer-based process model includes two instances of a task model, where each instance of the task model models a task that is a constituent of the work process;    providing a structure associated with the task model that defines, without reference to a particular task, differentiated roles for persons participating in a task modeled by the task model; and    using the computer-based process model to support at least one of execution, control and improvement of the work process.    
   
   
       61 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein interactions among persons participating in a task modeled by an instance of the task model are defined by the structure associated with the task model that defines, without reference to a particular task, differentiated roles for persons participating in a task modeled by the task model.  
   
   
       62 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein any modeled requirement that a first instance of the task model which models a first task be executed before a second instance of the task model which models a second task, results from a requirement by the second task for a result of the first task.  
   
   
       63 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein the result of the first task, required by the second task, may be required for any one or more of (1) determining a requirement by the second task for a result of a third task, (2) determining a requirement for a person to participate in the second task, (3) determining a task role of a person participating in the second task, and (4) determining a result of the second task.  
   
   
       64 . A method for managing one or more work processes comprising: 
 providing a computer-based software framework consisting of related software classes and software objects including an abstract task class, where a constituent task of a work process is modeled by a class derived from the abstract task class; and including concrete role classes associated either with the abstract task class or with a class derived from the abstract task class, where the concrete role classes model roles of persons participating in a task modeled either by the abstract task class or by the class derived from the abstract task class with which the concrete role classes are associated;    using the computer-based software framework to construct a computer-based process model of the work process; and    using the computer-based process model to support at least one of execution, control and improvement of the work process.    
   
   
       65 . The method of  claim 64 , wherein: 
 the task modeled either by the abstract task class or by the class derived from the abstract task class, is a decision, requiring choice from among alternatives; and    a first concrete role class models a first role, where anyone participating in the first role modeled by the first concrete role class has a right to make a decision modeled by an associated task class.    
   
   
       66 . The method of  claim 65 , wherein a second concrete role class models a second role, where anyone participating in the second role modeled by the second concrete role class has a right to veto a decision modeled by an associated task class.  
   
   
       67 . The method of  claim 65 , wherein a second concrete role class models a second role, where anyone participating in the second role modeled by the second concrete role class has a right to an opportunity to influence a decision modeled by an associated task class.