Peter Denning and Ral Medina-Mora. 1994. "Case Study of Course Scheduling in a University." In The Workflow Paradign. (T. White and L. Fischer, Eds), Future Strategies, Book Division, 909 Marina Village Parkway, Alameda, CA 94501, 235-251.
Business process reengineering has emerged as an important practice but is not yet a disciple. The molecular element of all business processes is the workflow loop, and interaction between two people in which one (the performer) fulfills a committment to the satisfaction of the other (the client). A process is a network of loops. The satisfaction of external clients and of internal workers is connected directly to recurrent completions of loops throughout the process. A process, however dysfunctional, is held in place by the tacit agreement of the participants; reengineering comprises providing technology to support the new process and in reorganizing the practices of the participants. Mapping the business process with loop notation is the basis of a discipline. All these points are illustrated with a case study of a complex, major univeristy processs; curriculum management.
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