Open Source Workflow Applications

[Bixby]

Does anyone here know of a good open source workflow application? I want to introduce workflow to a couple of our company processes. One of the key drivers is to show how paperwork and approvals move (or don't move) through the organization. A good workflow app would report on stuff in process along with where it sits. Also, it would be great to get metrics on how long stuff sits in each department before it moves along.

Thanks in advance for any insights or clarity you can provide...
Matt

[Mr. Analog]

There's a Workflow Module for Dupal, I haven't used it myself but from what I've heard it's pretty decent...

[Bixby]

Thanks. I will give that a look. Any idea what it is called?

[Mr. Analog]

This should help...
http://drupal.org/project/workflow_extensions

It's been a while since I looked into Workflow, I'm sure there's better OSS stuff out there.

There are quite a few workflow engines compatible with Apache as well, though most of the ones I remember were solidly in Java-land

[Darren Dirt]

Does anyone here know of a good open source workflow application? I want to introduce workflow to a couple of our company processes.

3x5 cards and felt markers = open source

[Melbosa]

The one I have seen is DIA: http://dia-installer.de/

[Mr. Analog]

Does anyone here know of a good open source workflow application? I want to introduce workflow to a couple of our company processes.

3x5 cards and felt markers = open source

LOL reminds me of that old CFB cartoon "Blackberry Jam" where the computer turned out to be a little old man.

[Lazybones]

LOL reminds me of that old CFB cartoon "Blackberry Jam" where the computer turned out to be a little old man.

HEHE  "Jonathan Cleaned Up - Then He Heard a Sound: or Blackberry Subway Jam"

[Mr. Analog]

Haha, you got it

Man, does the CFB still do animation projects like that I wonder?

[Lazybones]

Haha, you got it

Man, does the CFB still do animation projects like that I wonder?

Probably a topic for another thread... related you can watch A Bunch of Munsch on Netflix if you like his stuff.

As for workflow tools all the ones I know are pay enterprise apps if you are looking for something that actually tracks process steps and documents, not a tool for diagramming process.

[Melbosa]

Yeah sorry the DIA I linked is as Lazybones said, it's for documenting a process.  Process management you're looking for usually comes with a price tag.  Depends on what type of processes you're looking to track and manage?

[Mr. Analog]

I found a good breakdown of various workflow languages and the patterns they support: http://workflowpatterns.com/evaluations/standard/index.php

[Bixby]

Thanks gang.

Yea, it looks like I need a commercial solution. The reason I was looking at Open Source is that our I/T department has a backlog of tasks and quite a skills shortage. I was trying to examine opportunities that we could evaluate and use outside of their purview. I will start looking at commercial solutions to see what shakes down.

Thanks again for all of the responses. VERY MUCH appreciated.

[Lazybones]

Thanks gang.

Yea, it looks like I need a commercial solution. The reason I was looking at Open Source is that our I/T department has a backlog of tasks and quite a skills shortage. I was trying to examine opportunities that we could evaluate and use outside of their purview. I will start looking at commercial solutions to see what shakes down.

Thanks again for all of the responses. VERY MUCH appreciated.

Is your workflow ITIL ?
You might want to check out
http://www.manageengine.com/help-desk-software.html

Also their ITIL handblook is great at simplifying ITIL and making it easy to understand for those that have not taken training
http://www.manageengine.com/products/service-desk/itil-whitepaper.html

[Mr. Analog]

If you go with a commercial option I strongly advise against IBM Content Manager, on the surface it looks like it has everything you need but there are some fundamental plumbing problems that will make you tear your hair out (or at least contribute to a drinking problem).

The same goes with IBM Tivoli

BAD JUJU

[Bixby]

Thanks for the heads up on IBM Content Manager.

No, this is not an ITIL process, (actually these processes have nothing to do with I/T at all). These are standard business processes used by our sales department, service department, credit department, freight department, etc.

I have worked in the area of Business Process Improvement for years, these things always fail when departments fail to comply with the processes. A workflow application will show work as it flows through the process and where it either stalls, or deviates from the established process. Our Sales Department personnel tend to be a bit "creative" and that causes a lot of downstream problems for other departments. Much of what is driving this, is a need to get all departments working efficiently together by having each department and person be accountable for their work packages in a Timely, Consistent, Efficient manner.

Probably more than you wanted to know.

[Darren Dirt]

If you go with a commercial option I strongly advise against IBM [most stuff], on the surface it looks like it has everything you need but there are some fundamental plumbing problems that will make you tear your hair out

FYP



seriously tho, so you were hoping to get a free app that easily generated stuff like this?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Metamodel_change_management.png

[Lazybones]

Sharepoint 2010 has workflow functionality in it from what I recall in a past presentation, if you already have it in your environment you might be able to build off of that.

[Darren Dirt]

OP, so you're maybe looking for an app that has all this stuff readily available as lego-blocks for building?
http://workflowpatterns.com/evaluations/standard/

[Mr. Analog]

OP, so you're maybe looking for an app that has all this stuff readily available as lego-blocks for building?
http://workflowpatterns.com/evaluations/standard/

I believe I linked that already, it's a great matrix of what patterns different standards support.

[Thorin]

So I've heard the word "workflow" used to describe similar but distinctly different concepts.  Are you looking for something that will enforce workflow and stop work from progressing outside the established workflow pattern, or something that will record workflow and show when workers are ignoring the established workflow pattern?  Or are you just looking to map out and establish a workflow?

[Bixby]

So I've heard the word "workflow" used to describe similar but distinctly different concepts.  Are you looking for something that will enforce workflow and stop work from progressing outside the established workflow pattern, or something that will record workflow and show when workers are ignoring the established workflow pattern?  Or are you just looking to map out and establish a workflow?

We can easily design and map out our processes, but there is no current way to monitor that the processes are being followed and where there are bottlenecks. A "workflow" application would be used to enforce compliance to an established process, monitor what is being done, where, when, and by whom.