Workflow management with systems approach: anticipated and ad-hoc workflow for scientific applications

While workflow management has mostly been considered in business applications so far, the focus of the Workflow Management with Systems Approach (WOMASA) is on scientific applications such as geoprocessing, molecular biology, or laboratory environments. In particular, WOMASA aims at flexible and platform-indepented workflow support, with respect to both specification and execution of workflows. It turns out that the modeling and execution of workflows in traditional and in scientific applications exhibit significant differences. In particular, the need for dynamic modifications of workflow models while workflows are running is an important feature in scientific applications. The conceptual design and functionality of a WOMASA prototype is outlined, in particular that of its core workflow engine, and it is shown how the requirements of flexibility in modeling and executing workflows, imposed by scientific applications, are met.