In this paper, we present a cooperative hypermedia based process support system focusing on flexible business processes. An analysis of the communication, coordination and cooperation requirements of business processes reveals a gap in current computer support. We propose to address these requirements by extending a cooperative hypermedia system with process support. The resulting system, called CHIPS, uses hypermedia based activity spaces to model the structural, relational, and computational semantics of both individual tasks and processes. Application examples demonstrate that the CHIPS system retains the intuitive usability of hypertext and can support a wide range of business processes.

Due to the increasingly distributed nature of organizations, distributed scheduling methods have been proposed as alternatives to centralized, hierarchical, topdown production control schemes. While distributed scheduling methodologies are appealing, one must first address the fundamental questions of when and where such a method is appropriate. This paper seeks to provide an answer to these questions. Using a generalized workflow framework, this paper models and compares the total expected costs of using decentralized and centralized organizational designs to coordinate the flows of information and work. This comparison allows one to define the characterisitcs of work environments where distributed scheduling methods are more suitable than hierarchical, top-down production approaches. Finally, from this analysis, one can conclude that distributed scheduling methods work well for systems where information technology is inexpensive relative to production cost, processing times are relatively long, and where the number of agents in the system is not too large.

Dockets are traditional paper means for supporting specific classes of workflows which concentrate on content and its value for individuals and organizations. A docket prescribes and finally documents some content reviewing process which is part of a larger value chain.

Conversations are a new programming abstraction created for capturing knowledge about the interactions among agents. In this paper we review a conversational coordination language we have designed and used in the past few years, to characterize its main assumptions, strengths and limitations. Based on this analysis we discuss a number of major new features and extensions for our next generation conversational coordination language.