Monitoring information and data flows using triggers in a dynamic workflow environment

Monitoring information and data flows in an organization is a difficult process. Information is often made up of several entities and quickly becomes obsolete. With current systems, monitoring and validating information is a daunting task, it involves not only implementing complex queries but also code changes, recompilations and reruns each time we add or change information. Active database systems have been created to support applications by detecting and responding to changes in databases. This includes support for specifying trigger systems to monitor changes and perform some data control tasks. However one of the problems with current trigger systems is their limited support for detecting and monitoring information and data flows in a dynamic and evolving environment. This paper addresses this limitation and a mechanism is presented in which triggers may be placed to monitor information and data flows in a dynamic workflow environment.