New YAWL: specifying a workflow reference language using coloured petri nets

Abstract

newYAWL is a business process modelling language founded on the workow patterns. It radically extends the YAWL offering to provide holistic support for the controlflow, data and resource perspectives and allows business processes to be captured in sucient detail that they can be\ndirectly enacted. In order to ensure that business processes are executed in a deterministic way, newYAWL is based on formal foundations. This paper describes the approach taken to specifying the operational semantics for newYAWL based on Coloured Petri Nets. It discusses the development of the semantic model for newYAWL, which was undertaken using CPN Tools, and the experiences associated with developing a complete operational design for an offering of this scale using formal techniques.