Interface Contracts for Workflow+ Models: an Analysis of Uncertainty across Models

By: Richard F. Paige, Fiona A.C. Polack, Steffen Zschaler, Thomas Chiang, Nicholas Annable

Abstract

Workflow models are used to rigorously specify and reason about diverse types of processes. The Workflow+ (WF+) framework has been developed to support unified modelling of the control and data in processes that can be used to derive assurance cases that support certification. However, WF+ is limited in its support for precise contracts on workflow models, which can enable powerful forms of static analysis and reasoning. In this paper we propose a mechanism for adding interface contracts to WF+ models, which can thereafter be applied to tracing and reasoning about the uncertainty that arises when combining heterogeneous models. We specifically explore this in terms of design models and assurance case models. We argue that some of the key issues in managing some types of uncertainty can be partly addressed by use of interface contracts.

Keywords

Uncertainty, modelling, process models, interface contracts.

Cite as:

Richard F. Paige, Fiona A.C. Polack, Steffen Zschaler, Thomas Chiang, Nicholas Annable, “Interface Contracts for Workflow+ Models: an Analysis of Uncertainty across Models”, Journal of Object Technology, Volume 21, no. 4 (October 2022), pp. 4:1-13, doi:10.5381/jot.2022.21.4.a6.