A Workflow-Based Methodology for Developing Hypermedia Information Systems

Recently, many enterprises have attempted to construct hypermedia systems for electronic commerce innovation by the use of Internet technologies. In this hypermedia-enabled environment, hypermedia development can be considered in terms of workflow. In this article we propose a workflow-aware hypermedia development methodology, workflow-based hypermedia development methodology, to guide developers in creating hypermedia information systems. The methodology employs a workflow model based on corporate documents and is thus more likely to utilize users' business requirements in a natural fashion. The methodology consists of four phases: workflow analysis, document analysis, hypermedia design, and implementation. The emphasis of each phase is on aligning business requirements with hypermedia development technologies. To demonstrate the practical usefulness of the methodology, a real-life case is illustrated.