> ### 4.2 Listing Process Instances, Work Items, and Process Definitions

> Process instances are called that because they are occurrences of general process definitions. Process instances are used to perform activities (actions) according to its process definition. A process definition is like a recipe, and a process instance is like the specific cake you bake from that recipe. The activities required to complete a process instance are like the steps required by the recipe. When an activity is assigned to a user, it is called a work item.

> Webster's dictionary defines a "process" as the "course, steps, or methods toward a desired result." Interstage BPM provides a way to design dynamic diagrams to organize the course, steps and methods required to achieve many kinds of business results.

> An Interstage BPM process is represented by a flowchart, which contains:

> · A description of the tasks that must be performed.
> · The sequence in which the tasks may be performed.
> · Who can perform the task
> · The documents and forms required for completion of the process instance.

> Much of this information is organized under the various panes of the BPM Console.

> The BPM Console is organized as follows:

> · Process Definitions lists all of the process definitions in the Interstage BPM database.
> · Process Instances lists all of the process instances in the Interstage BPM database, filtered in one of the following ways: My Active Instances; My Inactive Instances; All Active Instances; All Inactive Instances; All Instances; or Instances in Error State.
> · The Work List lists work items, filtered in one of the following ways: My Activities; My Accepted Activities; My Active Activities; My Declined Activities; My Completed Activities; All Inactive Activities; or All Activities.

> Figure 5: Process Instances with the My Active Process Instances Filter selected

> Sales, customer requests, returned merchandise, and even new innovations are the kinds of typical business processes that Interstage BPM is ideally suited to model. Other examples, as well as a description of how to implement one of the examples, are described in Appendix B.

Business Process Manager Help-Fujitsu Computer Systems Corporation Interstage Website Voice: (888) 248-9273 Interstage BPM Information