陳美淨

Due to the emergence of Internet, enterprises are able to integrate value-added activities and resources across enterprises through enterprise alliance to quickly response the market changes and customers’ expectations. “Virtual Enterprise” and “B2B Commerce” are consequently regarded as the most promising business model in the 21st century. 　　The realization of Virtual Enterprise and B2B Commerce is dependent on the efficient integration of multi-enterprise’s dynamic workflow, which is further based on whether the mechanisms of workflow management are able to manage and coordinate processes immediately and automatically. 　　This paper first presents a dynamic workflow model for multi-enterprise in accordance with the characteristics and operational model of virtual enterprise and workflow. A system framework for multi-enterprise dynamic workflow management is then proposed, which is developed based on the workflow reference model proposed by WfMC, as well as applies the concept of hierarchical management and the features of software agents to increase the dynamic ability of the framework. Finally, a main component called monitoring agent is analyzed and designed to support the system framework by using object-oriented methodology. This component is implemented with characteristics of autonomy, intelligence, and distributed computing by making use of Java. 　　This research will facilitate not only the development of a system for multi-enterprise dynamic workflow management but also the management of business processes across enterprises, and thereby improve efficiency of inter- and intra-enterprise processes, and advance business profit.