Schema Evolution in Object and Process-Aware Information Systems: Issues and Challenges

Enabling process flexibility is crucial for any process-aware information system (PAIS). In particular, implemented processes may have to be frequently adapted to accommodate to changing environments and evolving needs. When evolving a PAIS, corresponding process schemas have to be changed in a controlled manner. In the context of object-aware processes, which are characterized by a tight integration of process and data, PAIS evolution not only requires process schema evolution, but the evolution of data and user authorization schemas as well. Since the different schemas of an object-aware PAIS are tightly integrated, modifying one of them usually requires concomitant changes of the other schemas. This paper presents a framework for object-aware process support and discusses major requirements and challenges for enabling schema evolution in object-aware PAIS.