Simple modeling of executable role-based workflows: An application in the healthcare domain

Process modeling has become an established technique to document, analyse and automate workflows. Workflows that model the procedures followed by professionals require the immediate contribution of these professionals, who usually lack broad knowledge of formal models as well as software engineering skills. Simplicity of the selected modeling approach throughout each step of the design phase is therefore a key factor for the success of a workflow management project. In this paper we show a process modelling framework that combines simplicity and intuitiveness in the modeling phase with immediate evaluation of the models via execution. This combination allows practitioners and professionals to play a key role in the rapid development of IT applications and systems that support role-based workflows. We discuss the practicability and benefits of this approach on an exemplary case study from the healthcare domain: analysis and optimization of outpatient clinic processes of a leading German hospital.