Introduction to the Workflow Management Coalition

Founded in 1993, the Workflow Management Coalition (WfMC) is a global organization of adopters, developers, consultants, analysts, as well as university and research groups engaged in workflow and BPM.  The WfMC creates and contributes to process related standards, educates the market on related issues, and is the only standards organization that concentrates purely on process.  The WfMC created Wf-XML and XPDL, the leading process definition used today in over 80 known solutions to store and exchange process models.  XPDL is not an executable programming language but a process design format for storing the visual diagram and process syntax of business process models, as well as extended product attributes.

The WfMC has over 300 member organizations worldwide, representing all facets of workflow, from vendors to users, and from academics to consultants. We invite you to join us and find out first hand what's going on in the Business Process Management and Workflow industry.  As a Coalition member, you have the opportunity to influence developing standards and network with the key players in the workflow industry.  A core value of the WfMC is "interoperability." One factor in a positive user experience for consumers of workflow technologies is knowing when two or more products are likely to work with one another.

To ask questions or learn more about membership, e-mail wfmc-at-wfmc-dot-org, or call: 888-487-8858 or +1-781-923-1411.

Mission Statement

Welcome
from Jon Pyke, WfMC Chair

 
Click here for Jon's audio interview on achieving ROI with
Business Process Management (3 minutes, 875kb)

Why Should a Business Use Workflow?
The Evolution of Workflow Workflow Management consists of the automation of business procedures or "workflows" during which documents, information or tasks are passed from one participant to another in a way that is governed by rules or procedures.

Workflow software products, like other software technologies, have evolved from diverse origins. While some offerings have been developed as pure workflow software, many have evolved from image management systems, document management systems, relational or object database systems, and electronic mail systems. 

Vendors who have developed pure workflow offerings have invented terms and interfaces, while vendors who have evolved products from other technologies have often adapted terminology and interfaces. Each approach offers a variety of strengths from which a user can choose. Adding a standards based approach allows a user to combine these strengths in one infrastructure.

The Key Benefits