JP2002183388A - Work flow system, operation method, and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily determine a circulation route for an electronic operation. SOLUTION: This work flow system comprises an approval allocation responsible person data base 13 having, therein, the allocation responsible person B0 with an authority to determine the route of an approval circulation from section A to whom in section B and an allocation module 14 displaying a workflow set screen 40 to prompt the input of an approving person or the selection of section name to determine the route for circulating the approval circulation by the allocation responsible person A0 in section A, retrieving the approval allocation responsible person data base 13 based on the section name when the section name is specified on the route set by the workflow set screen 40, and outputting the approval allocation responsible person in the specified section to a workflow engine 11.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to, for example, a workflow system, a business method, and a storage medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a workflow system in which electronic tasks are sent to a person in charge of each terminal on a network in a predetermined order.

In the case of this type of workflow system, the route of a workflow is determined by designating a person in charge. Therefore, the person in charge of determining the route of a certain electronic business is the name of all persons or the user ID. It is necessary to know.

[0004] In recent years, various businesses have been digitized, and there are also electronic businesses that require circulation or cross-department or approval, such as a consultation (a meeting) at a government office or the like.

[0005] In the case of such an electronic business, the route cannot be set unless the person in charge of deciding the route for the business knows the circulation person or approver of another department. It was necessary to ask for the name of the circulation person or the approver or the user ID, etc.

[0006] In the electronic business, when circulating approval documents, it is necessary to grasp the hierarchical relationship of positions for each person, and it is extremely difficult to determine a circulation route. For example, you can almost understand the circulation route, but if you are also with other departments, you will first turn to whom, then to whom, etc.
It is often difficult to determine a detailed circulation route.

[0007]

As described above, in the conventional workflow system, it is necessary for a person in charge to know all the circulators or approvers in order to determine the route through which work is to be performed. For example, in the case of a meeting (a meeting) held at a government office or the like, a circulation person is not known, and it is necessary to inquire the relevant department one by one.

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and a workflow system and a business method capable of easily determining a circulation route of an electronic business and, as a result, improving business efficiency. And a storage medium.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a workflow system for sequentially transferring an electronic business to a terminal reader on a network. When a person in charge of assigning a work route within a department having the authority to determine the route through which business is routed to each of the departments in his / her department is registered in a database registered for each business, Alternatively, a means for prompting the input of a department and designating a route of a workflow, and when a department is designated on the route of the workflow, searching the database based on the information of the department and assigning a business route assignment in the corresponding department Means for setting a user on the route of the workflow, It is characterized by comprising a flow control means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a business method for sequentially transferring an electronic business to a circulator of a terminal on a network. Prompting the input, designating the workflow route, flowing the electronic business in accordance with the specified route, and, if a department is specified on the workflow route, the department for each business based on the information of the department. A step of searching a database in which a person in charge of internal business route assignment is registered, and sending the business to the person in charge of internal business route assignment.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to sequentially execute an electronic business to a circulator of a terminal on a network to execute the processing. When deciding a route on the network, prompting the input of a circulator or department, means for specifying the workflow route, means for flowing electronic work according to the specified route, and when a department is specified on the workflow route ,
Based on the information of the department, the computer reads a database in which a person in charge of assigning a task route in the department is registered for each task, and the computer reads a program which functions as a means for sending the task to the person in charge of assigning the task route in the department. It is characterized by being memorized as possible.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a workflow system in which electronic business is sequentially routed to a circulator of a terminal on a network, wherein information of a circulator who next circulates the electronic business is registered for each circulator. A database, a workflow control means for flowing an electronic business in accordance with a set workflow route, a means for prompting a circulation person who turns the electronic business in deciding a workflow route, and the circulation person is inputted when the circulation person is inputted. Means for searching the database on the basis of the above information and setting the relevant person as the next circulation person in the workflow control means.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a business method in which an electronic business is sequentially routed to a circulator at a terminal on a network. When a circular is input, a database in which the information of the circular who will next turn the electronic business is registered for each circular based on the information of the circular is searched. The method is characterized in that it has a step of setting it on a workflow route as a circulating person, and a step of flowing electronic work according to the set workflow route.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to sequentially execute an electronic business to a circulator of a terminal on a network to execute a process. Workflow control means for flowing the electronic business according to the route, means for prompting the input of a circulator who turns the electronic business in determining the route of the workflow, when the circulator is input, the database is created based on the information of the circulator. The program is stored in a computer-readable manner so as to function as means for searching and setting the relevant person as the next circulation person in the workflow control means.

In the workflow system according to the present invention, in the workflow system in which electronic business is sequentially routed to a terminal circulator on a network, information of a circulator who next circulates the electronic business is registered for each of the circulators. A first database, a second database in which a department business route assigner who has authority to determine a route to distribute electronic business from another department to each circular in the own department is registered for each business; In deciding a route, means for prompting the input of a circulator or a department that turns the electronic business, and when the circulator is entered, searches the first database based on the circulator information and searches for the relevant person. Means for setting on the route of the workflow as a next circulator; and when a department is designated on the route of the workflow, the second is set based on the information of the department. Searches the database, is characterized by comprising means for setting the appropriate department within the business route assigned personnel on the root of the workflow, and a workflow control unit that electrons flow operations in accordance route workflow set.

According to the first, second, and third aspects of the present invention, when deciding a route on a network through which an electronic business is to flow, the user is prompted to enter a circulator or a department, and when a workflow route is designated, the designated route is designated. Follow the electronic business according to.
If a department is specified on the workflow route, the database in which the department's business route assigning person is registered for each task based on the information of the department is searched, and the corresponding department's task route assigning person is searched. Since the business is sent to the user, if the department name is specified, the electronic business can be circulated without specifying all the circulators.

According to the fourth, fifth, and sixth aspects of the present invention, when deciding the route of the workflow, the user is prompted to input a circulation person who turns the electronic business. Based on the information, a database in which the information of the next electronic person to be used for the electronic business is registered is searched, and the relevant person is set on the workflow route as the next electronic business person. In this case, the person in charge of deciding the workflow route can simply set the first circulator and set the subsequent circulators without mistake.

According to the invention described in claim 7, in deciding the route of the workflow, the user is prompted to input a circulator or a department that turns the electronic business, and when the circulator is input, the first circulator is based on the circulator information. Search the database and set that person as the next circulation person on the workflow route. Also,
When a department is designated on the workflow route, the second database is searched based on the information of the department, and the person in charge of assigning the business route in the department is set on the workflow route. Then, the electronic work flows according to the set workflow route. Thus, the person who determines the workflow route can reliably set the workflow route only by designating a circulation person or a department within a range that he can understand.

Therefore, the circulation route of the electronic business can be easily determined, and as a result, the operation efficiency can be improved.

[0020]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a workflow system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the workflow system is connected to a workflow server computer 1 (hereinafter, referred to as a server 1) and a network such as a local network 2 (hereinafter, referred to as a LAN 2). And a computer 3. The computer 3 is a business processing terminal that is distributed and arranged in a plurality of departments, for example, section A, section B, section C, and the like.

The computer 3 is generally composed of an apparatus main body capable of loading and reading a CD-ROM or a floppy (registered trademark) disk (FD), and an input device and a display connected to the apparatus main body. It is a computer. The input device is, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, or the like. The display device is, for example, a CRT monitor, an LCD monitor, or the like.

A CPU, a ROM, and an R
A control unit including an AM, a hard disk drive (HDD), and a CD-R for reading information from a CD-ROM
An OM drive, an FD drive that reads and writes information from and to the FD, a communication device, and the like are mounted. The ROM stores an initial operation setting program such as BIOS. The communication device is a LAN interface (hereinafter, referred to as LAN I / F) such as a LAN board for performing data communication with the LAN 2. Various software including an operating system (hereinafter referred to as an OS) is installed in the HDD. Examples of the software include a browser and a workflow client. Workflow client is server 1
Is software that retrieves and processes the work that is addressed to you. Specifically, it displays the circulation data addressed to the user stored in the server 1 and executes processing such as approval / denial.

As shown in FIG. 2, the server 1 includes a workflow engine 11, an organization database 12, an approval assignee database 13, an assignment module 14, an HT
ML screen output program 15, input processing program 16
Etc.

The work flow engine 11 is a work flow control means for sending electronic work according to the designated (set) work flow route. The organization database 12 stores hierarchical organization information (such as personnel data). In the approval assignment person in charge database 13, a person in charge of a task route assignment within a department having authority to determine a route to flow an electronic job from another department to each person in the department is registered for each job. The assignment module 14 is a workflow setting screen for determining the flow (route) of the workflow in response to a request from a predetermined person in charge (see FIG. 4).
Is displayed, and when a department is designated as one of the routes for flowing electronic business on this workflow setting screen, the approval assignment person in charge database 13 is searched based on the information of the department,
A person in charge of assigning a work route within a department for each work is set for the workflow engine 11. The HTML screen output program 15 is a program that outputs various HTML-based screens stored in the server 1 in response to a request from each terminal 3. The input processing program 16 is a program that takes in the information input to the HTML-based screen by each workflow client into the server 1.

That is, the server 1 has a function of an HTTP server (reception of a request from a terminal and a response to the terminal) and a workflow management function (a function of controlling circulation of a user inside the server, a function of retaining personnel data, etc.). Have

The approval assignee database 13 contains
For example, a table 30 as shown in FIG. 3 is provided. For example, a charge A0 is registered as an approval assignment person in charge of the section A for the task a, a charge B0 is registered as an approval assignment person in charge of the section B, and the approval assignment of the section C is made. In charge as charge C0
Is registered. In addition, for the work b and the work c, an approval assigning person is registered for each section.

As shown in FIG. 4, the workflow setting screen 40 sets a workflow by arranging a column 41 for key input of the name of a person in charge or a user ID and arrows for specifying a circulation order (route) in various ways. This is a possible screen. After arranging the columns 41 and arrows, the workflow is set by keying in the name of a circulator or approver, for example, A1, A2, A3, etc., in each column 41. Operations are performed in order. A button 42 for displaying a break-down menu is provided at the right corner of each column 41. In addition to key input of a name, clicking this button 42 allows the user to select and enter a section name. A menu 43 is displayed, and a route can be specified for each section. In this example, when the button 42 is clicked, the section A, the section B, the section C, and the like are displayed in the breakdown menu 43, and for example, the section B is selected from these.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 5, the route of the workflow of a certain electronic business is the approver A1 of the section A.
After approving the circulation documents, it circulates to Approver A2 of Section A,
After the approver A2 of the section A approves the circulation document, it circulates to the approver A3 of section A, and after the approver A3 of section A approves, the workflow is routed to section B. It is set to 14.

Next, a first operation example of the workflow system will be described with reference to FIGS. In the case of this workflow system, as shown in FIG. 5, when a route of a workflow of an electronic business such as approval circulation is set, the workflow engine 11 circulates the approval circulation according to the route.

At this time, since the workflow engine 11 of the server 1 basically flows the work on a user basis of each computer 3, in the case of the workflow route shown in FIG. 5, the approval circulation is performed by the approver A1 → the approver A2 → Circulation is performed in the order of approver A3, and when approval by the approver A3 is completed, the next circulation destination (circulation person) becomes indefinite, and the business name and the circulation destination B
The section name is sent to the assignment module 14 to inquire about the circulation destination.

When the workflow engine 11 inquires of the circulation destination by the business name and the section name from the workflow engine 11, the allocation module 14 searches the approval allocation person in charge database 13 based on the business name and the section name, and The name of the person in charge of assigning the work route in the section, for example, the person in charge B0 is output to the workflow engine 11.

As a result, A3 → B0 is set (assigned) to the workflow route of the workflow engine 11, and as shown in FIG. Person B0
Circulate the approval circulation to.

Incidentally, when the approval circulation is circulated to the approval assigning person B0 in the section B, the circulation persons after the approval assigning person B0 have not been assigned yet.

Since the approval allocator B0 knows all the approvers in the section regarding this approval circulation, when the approval circulation is circulated, as shown in FIG. Then, approvers B1, B2, and B3 are keyed in as appropriate approvers, and approvers (circulators) in the section are assigned. As a result, the approval circulation from the section A to the section B is circulated to an appropriate approver in the section B and finally to the approver B3.

As described above, according to the first operation example of the workflow system, in the case of a business form such as a consultation (aiki) in which a workflow is performed across a plurality of sections, such as approval circulation, etc. Is the workflow setting screen 40
When setting the workflow route in, for other sections etc. that cannot grasp the circulation person, instead of appointing the circulation person, the section name is selected and input, so please make inquiries to other sections one by one In addition, it is possible to easily and correctly set the route of a workflow that spans a plurality of sections. As a result, work efficiency can be improved.

Next, a second operation example of the workflow system will be described. Even the person in charge of assigning approvers in a section does not always know all the hierarchical relationships of posts in the section, and may incorrectly set the approver even if the approval circulation is within the section. .

Therefore, in the second operation example, the authority is sequentially used by utilizing the job authority structure in the section (upper and lower relations of the position), that is, the algorithm in which the person who approves next to a certain approver is the superior person. Make decisions.

For example, taking the members of the section C as an example, the section C is, as shown in FIG.
Is an approver C3, and his subordinates are approvers C2 and C
There are six. It is assumed that the approver C2 has a subordinate such as approvers C4 and C1 and the approver C6 has a subordinate such as approvers C5 and C7 in a tree structure.

In this case, a table 90 as shown in FIG. 9 is set in the organization database 12 shown in FIG. 2, and at the time of setting a workflow, the assignment module 14 searches the table 90 of the organization database 12 to obtain the next approval. Choose a person.

In this table 90, higher-ranking persons are set for each of the circulars in the section. For example, the approver C2 is set as the superior of the approver C1, and the approver C3 is set as the superior of the approver C2.

Here, a second operation example of the workflow system will be described with reference to FIG. In order to determine the route of a workflow for a certain electronic business, for example, an approval circulation, the approval assigning person C0 as a member of the section C displays the workflow setting screen 40 shown in FIG. As shown, when only one approver C1 is keyed in as the first approver, the assignment module 14 causes the organization database 12 based on the information of the approver C1.
And selects the approver C2, which is the superior of the approver C1, and the approver C3, which is the superior of the approver C2. As shown in FIG. After C1, the selected approver C2 and approver C3 are added in order.

If there is no change in the approval route, by clicking a decision button (not shown) on the workflow setting screen 40, the route is assigned to the assignment module 1
4 to the workflow engine 11.

As a result, the workflow route shown in FIG. 11 is set in the workflow engine 11, and the approval circulation in the section is flown by the workflow engine 11.

In this example, documents to be circulated (business)
Has been described only in the case of approval circulation, but in the case where one person concurrently serves a plurality of tasks (projects and the like) in a section, the approver (supervisor) may be different for each task.

In this case, similarly to the first operation example, a plurality of tables 90 are set for each job (each document, each project), and a circulation person (approver) corresponding to each job is determined from each table 90. You may make it select.

As described above, according to the second operation example of the workflow system, when the approval assigning person C0 determines the route of the approval circulation to be circulated in the section, the approver C1 who turns the document first must be keyed in. If the assignment module 14
However, the approver C2, C3 is selected with reference to the table 90, the members (provisional) of the approval route are added, and if there is no problem with this approval route, the approval assigning person C0 presses the decision button. Since the workflow of the approval circulation is set, the approval assigning person C0 can correctly set the route of the approval circulation without knowing the hierarchical relationship (approval route) of all persons in the section. .

The present invention is not limited only to the above embodiment. In the above embodiment, the first operation example and the second operation example have been described separately, but a workflow may be set by combining them. In other words, when setting up a workflow for a single task that crosses sections, for the own section, enter only the first circular and set the route for circulation within the section, and for other sections,
By setting a route by section name, a workflow can be set without making an inquiry.

The software described in the above embodiments may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium such as a floppy disk. In this case,
When the computer reads out the software (program) stored in the storage medium, the processing in each embodiment becomes possible.

The storage medium in the present invention includes:
Magnetic disk, floppy disk, hard disk,
Optical disks (CD-ROM, CD-R, DVD, etc.),
Any storage medium, such as a magneto-optical disk (MO or the like) or a semiconductor memory, which can store a program and can be read by a computer, may have any storage format.

An OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on instructions of a program installed on the computer from the storage medium.
Alternatively, MW (middleware) such as database management software and network software may execute a part of each process for realizing the present embodiment.

Further, the storage medium in the present invention is not limited to a medium independent of a computer, but also includes a storage medium in which a program transmitted through a LAN, the Internet, or the like is downloaded and stored or temporarily stored.

Further, the number of storage media is not limited to one, and the case where the processing in the present embodiment is executed from a plurality of media is also included in the recording medium of the present invention, and any media configuration may be used.

The computer according to the present invention executes each processing in the present embodiment based on a program stored in a storage medium. An apparatus such as a personal computer and a plurality of apparatuses are connected to a network. Any configuration such as a system performed may be used.

The computer in the present invention is
It is not limited to a personal computer, but also includes an arithmetic processing unit, a microcomputer, and the like included in an information processing device, and collectively refers to devices and devices capable of realizing the functions of the present invention by a program.

[0056]

As described above, according to the present invention, when deciding a route on a network through which electronic business is to flow, the user is prompted to enter a circulator or department, and when a workflow route is designated, the designated route is designated. Conduct electronic business according to the route. If a department is specified on the workflow route, the database in which the department's business route assigning person is registered for each task based on the information of the department is searched, and the corresponding department's task route assigning person is searched. Since the business is sent to the user, if the department name is specified, the electronic business can be circulated without specifying all the circulators. Further, according to the present invention, in deciding the route of the workflow, prompting input of a circulation person who turns electronic business, thereby, when a circulation person is input, based on the information of the circulation person, for each circulation person Next, a search is made for a database in which information of a circulator for electronic business is registered, and the relevant person is set on a workflow route as a circulator for next electronic business, and the electronic business is flowed according to the set workflow route. Therefore, the person in charge of deciding the route of the workflow can simply set the first circulator and set the subsequent circulators without mistake. Furthermore, according to the present invention, in deciding the route of the workflow, the input of a circulator or a department that turns the electronic business is prompted, and when the circulator is input, the first database is searched based on the circulator information. Then, the relevant person is set on the workflow route as the next circulation person. When a department is designated on the workflow route, the second database is searched based on the department information, and the corresponding business route assignment person in the department is set on the workflow route. Then, the electronic work flows according to the set workflow route. Thus, the person who determines the workflow route can reliably set the workflow route only by designating a circulation person or a department within a range that he can understand. Therefore, the circulation route of the electronic business can be easily determined, and as a result, the business efficiency can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a workflow system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a server of the workflow system.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a table of an approval assignment person in charge database of a server;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a workflow setting screen.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a workflow route set by the workflow system.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a person in charge assigned when a section name is set on this route.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state where an approver in a section is designated by the person in charge of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8: Hierarchy of persons constituting section C (job authority structure)
It is a figure showing an example of.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a table of an organization database of the server.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example in which an approval assignee designates an initial approver.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a state where an approver following a designated approver is automatically added.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Server, 2 ... LAN, 3 ... Computer, 11 ... Workflow engine, 12 ... Organization database, 13 ...
Approval assignment person database, 14: Assignment module, 15: HTML screen output program, 16: Input processing program

Claims (7)

[Claims] Claims: 1. A workflow system for sequentially transferring electronic business to a terminal circulator on a network, wherein a department business route assigner who has the authority to determine a route to route electronic business from another department to each circulator in the own department. Means for prompting the input of a circulator or department in order to determine the route on the network through which the electronic business flows, and a means for specifying a workflow route, and a department on the workflow route. Is specified,
A means for searching the database based on the information of the department, setting a corresponding department business route assignment person on the workflow route, and a workflow control means for flowing an electronic business according to the set workflow route. A workflow system, comprising: 2. A business method for sequentially transferring an electronic business to a circulator of a terminal on a network. In deciding a route on the network through which the electronic business flows, prompting input of a circulator or a department and designating a workflow route. Performing the electronic business according to the designated route; and, if a department is specified on the route of the workflow, an in-department business route assigning person is registered for each business based on the information of the department. Searching for a database, and sending a job to a person in charge of assigning a job route in the corresponding department. 3. A storage medium storing a program for causing a computer that sequentially turns an electronic business to a terminal reader on a network to execute a process, wherein the computer is used to determine a route on the network through which the electronic business flows. A means for prompting the input of a circulation person or department, and a means for specifying a workflow route, a means for flowing an electronic business according to the designated workflow route, and, when a department is specified on the workflow route, the information of the department is used. Searches the database in which the in-department business route assignment clerk is registered for each job, and stores the program readable by the computer to function as a means for sending the work to the corresponding departmental business route assignment clerk. Characteristic storage medium. 4. A workflow system for sequentially transferring an electronic business to a circulator of a terminal on a network, wherein: a database in which information of a circulator next to the electronic business is registered for each circulator; A workflow control means for flowing the electronic business, a means for prompting the input of a circulator to start the electronic business in deciding a workflow route, and, when the first circulator is input, based on the information of the circulator. Means for searching the database and setting a corresponding person as the next circulation person in the workflow control means. 5. A business method for sequentially transferring electronic business to a terminal circulator on a network. In deciding a workflow route, a step of prompting the input of a circulator for electronic business, and a case where the circulator is input Based on the information of the circulator, a database in which information of the circulator who next turns the electronic business is registered for each circulator is searched, and the corresponding person is set as the next circulator of the electronic business on the route of the workflow. And a step of flowing an electronic business according to the set workflow route. 6. A storage medium storing a program for causing a computer that sequentially turns electronic business to a terminal reader on a network to execute a process, wherein the computer controls the computer to execute the electronic business according to a set workflow route. Means for prompting the input of a circulator for electronic work in deciding the route of the workflow; if a circulator is input, the database is searched based on the information of the circulator, and the next person is circulated. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program that functions as a means for setting the workflow control means as a user. 7. A workflow system for sequentially transferring electronic business to a terminal circulator on a network, comprising: a first database in which information of a circulator next to the electronic business is registered for each circulator; A second database registered for each business by a department business route assigner who has the authority to determine the route to distribute the electronic business to each circulator in the own department. Means for prompting the input of a circulator or a department to be circulated; and, when the circulator is input, searching the first database based on the information of the circulator, and using the pertinent person as the next circulator to route the workflow. Means for setting the above, when a department is designated on the route of the workflow,
Means for retrieving the second database based on the information of the department, and setting a person in charge of assigning a task route within the department on the route of the workflow, workflow control for flowing an electronic task according to the set workflow route And a workflow system.