Enterprise workflow resource management

Resource management is a key issue in providing resource independence and efficient use of workflow resources. This paper outlines a design of such a resource management system for enterprise workflow environments. It is capable of handling a large number of workflow resources that are independently managed by pre-existing resource systems. It integrates these external resource systems at the schema level without duplicating individual resource information. Resource specification is greatly simplified by providing process designers with integrated views of enterprise workflow resources at different levels based on a unified resource model. Dynamic behaviors of workflow resources are supported through powerful resource policies