Handling signature purposes in workflow systems

In paper-based workflow systems, signatures of individuals or groups of people have been used extensively for various purposes. Currently there are numerous studies on computerizing workflow systems. Also there are studies on implementing digital signatures in electronic media. But the diversified purposes of a signature in workflow makes a straight-forward implementation of digital signature schemes inadequate. There are few studies on the implication of different signature purposes on electronic workflow systems. The purposes of signatures are closely associated with the two modes of decision making, namely single and group. These two modes of decision making in turn lead to single and group signatures. This paper reports our comprehensive studies on signature purposes. These include the analysis of common signature purposes in workflow, classification of these purposes, mode of decision making associated with these signature purposes and their classifications, a design of data structure which can capture these information for processing in workflow systems, signing and validation requirements for handling these signature purposes, and finally an architecture to be incorporated in workflow engine for handling these signature purposes. In summary, this paper addresses a commonly neglected problem in information systems research: management control by signature in workflow.