Agent-Based Business Process Design: A Declarative Approach Beyond Procedural Workflows

Business processes (BP) represent key factors of companies’ organizations. Over recent decades, researchers and managers have invested significant efforts in analysing, designing, and optimising BPs. A relevant role in BP related projects is played by digital technology, to automatise as much as possible the activities involved, from those dedicated to analysis and modelling to re-design and implementation. However, existing methodologies are challenged by a number of critical issues. The most relevant: inherent complexity of analysis and design, lack of flexibility, and difficulties in dealing with multifaceted business environments. To address such problems, in this paper we propose a design methodology based on Conceptual Modelling and a declaratative formalization of BPs with extensive use of artificial intelligent agents. The core of the methodology is given by three foundational notions: AI Agents, Business Objects, and Goals. The proposed agentic approach, referred to AGO (Agent, Goal, Object) is illustrated with an example to highlight the shift of the proposed paradigm. By moving away from traditional task-oriented approach, the AGO methodology marks a foundational step toward effective agentic business process management.