An analysis of the impact of workflow automation on user controls

Abstract

IN BUSINESS TODAY AN EVER INCREASING NUMBER OF SYSTEMS OR APPLICATIONS ARE BEING AUTOMATED OR REPLACED WITH NEW SYSTEMS BASED ON THE LATEST TECHNOLOGIES AVAILABLE. VERY OFTEN THIS INVOLVES IMPLEMENTING A NEW PROCESS BASED ON WORKFLOW SOFTWARE WITH LESS MANUAL OR USER INTERVENTION. THE IMPACT OF THIS ON THE PREVIOUS SYSTEM OF USER CONTROLS AROUND THE SYSTEM COULD BE FAIRLY SIGNIFICANT, IN AN ATTEMPT TO INCREASE EFFICIENCY AND PRODUCTIVITY. I THEREFORE INTEND TO ANALYSE THE USER CONTROLS WHICH WOULD BE FOUND IN A TYPICAL BUSINESS PROCESS INVOLVING A COMPUTERISED INFORMATION SYSTEM, AND TO IDENTIFY THE IMPACT OF INTRODUCING WORKFLOW AUTOMATION INTO THIS ENVIRONMENT. THIS WOULD INCLUDE A DETAILED EVALUATION OF AT LEAST ONE WORKFLOW SOFTWARE PACKAGE.