Coloured Petrinet for flexible business workflow modelling

Petrinet diagrams are a recognized form of modelling real time systems and have been included in the list of UML techniques for modelling the dynamic aspects of object oriented systems. In this paper, we explain how workflow techniques can be used for developing models for larger independent systems. These chunks or independent systems which are part of the large systems are expressed through the use of worklets. This can then be used as the basis of modelling systems where timeliness is of importance. However, this requires extending workflow ideas to incorporate flexibility, handling of exceptions and adaptability. Extensions of the Petrinet diagrams are then proposed for expressing the models obtained from such workflow techniques.