Typically, process models can be assembled out of a set of recurrent business functions (e.g., task execution request, approval, notification), each of them having generic semantics that can be described as activity pattern. In practice, respective business functions are usually (re-)defined from scratch for each business process model. Consequently, process design becomes  inefficient, complex and time-consuming when dealing with large process model collections.

ProWAP targets at an approach to increase the reuse of recurrent business functions when designing business processes. One of the basic pillars is provided by a set of workflow activity patterns which are close to the abstraction level or vocabulary used within an organization. This fosters pattern reuse when modeling business processes and therefore contributes to more standardized and better comparable business process models.

We provide a comprehensive framework evidencing the existence of activity patterns for defining recurrent business functions within process models. Furthermore, we investigate the benefits and completeness of these activity patterns with respect to business process modeling. Finally, ProWAP aims at comprehensive tool support for querying and reusing activity patterns as building blocks for process modelling.