Abstract
Workflow management systems are increasingly used to assist the automation of business processes that involve the exchange of documents, information, or task execution results. Recent developments in distributed information system technology now make it possible to extend the workflow management system idea to much wider spheres of activity in the industrial and commercial world. This paper describes a framework under development that employs such technology so that software tools and processes may interoperate in a distributed and dynamic environment. Key technical elements of the framework include the use of coloured Petri nets and distributed object technology (CORBA).