An Investigation of the Relationships Between Workflow and The Implementation of Object-Oriented Methods

• Main Author: Huber, Stephen L.
• Published: NSUWorks 2003
• Subjects: Computer Sciences
• Online Access: http://nsuworks.nova.edu/gscis_etd/597

In this study the problem of combining workflow automation technologies and object-oriented (00) methodologies has been analyzed. The problem has been studied from the perspective of information technology professionals working in large business enterprises. In order to secure information about the topic, a survey instrument was sent to representatives of these large business enterprises. In this survey the researcher asked questions related to the size of the companies involved, the attitudes of the information technology professionals and associated managers toward workflow and 00, and the amount of financial commitment by the enterprises to promote and integrate workflow and 00 within the respective companies. Once the information was gathered from the surveys, a statistical analysis was conducted to establish whether the hypotheses as stated within this study were accepted or rejected. After the analysis was completed, the results were documented as shown in this document. Two groups were considered during the study. Group I consisted of information technology professionals who use workflow automation technologies and object-oriented methodologies together. Group 2 consisted of information technology professionals who use workflow automation technologies without the benefit of object-oriented methodologies. The researcher concluded that, regarding the perceptions of group I and group 2, there was no statistically significant difference between the perceptions of the two groups when considering object-oriented methodologies and workflow automation technologies for items related to budget, training, and software maintenance. Likewise, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups related to perceived benefits, operational results and problem resolution. Conversely, the researcher concluded that the size of the information technology staff, the number of manufacturing process jobs and the number of administrative process jobs had no effect on the perceptions of the two groups regarding object-oriented methodologies and workflow automation technologies. Recommendations found within this study include standardizing object management techniques and reusability approaches, developing a workflow automation process prototype and exploring the combination of artificial intelligence techniques and workflow automation technologies.