On More Predictable Implementations of Reliable Workflows in Service-oriented Architectures

Abstract

Implementing a workflow using previously implemented services is a typical task while dealing with Service-oriented Architectures (SOA). Defining these workflows is the task of business (process) analysts in tight collaboration with clients or domain experts. Unfortunately these analysts only have a sketchy view on the Service-oriented Architecture, thus they do not know which investigations a specific new workflow will trigger.In earlier works we have shown how a Service-oriented Architecture can be hedged using so called protocols. In this work we will show how this concept can be made available for the business analysts. This will result in faster and more predictable implementation costs and behavior of the wished workflow. In contrast to other works, our approach uses an integrated view on business processes, i. e., the behavior of services used by business processes is taken into account. Our approach closes the gap between the business analysts and the Web Service developers by using an automatic approach. Moreover, previously existing works on analyzing workflows can be integrated within our approach.