• distributed workflow
• software agents
• WF-XML
• workflow patterns
• XPDL

Workflow Management Systems (WFMS) are a widespread solution, used both by business companies and public administrations, to automate processes . In the recent years there have been great efforts in the industry to create standards to make possible efficient interoperability between heterogeneous WFMS (Cross-Organizational Workflow). On another scale, certain fields of application need a distributed WFMS, capable of sustain unpredictable loss of connection between its parts, which may need to operate autonomously. I will explore the possibility that such a system can be obtained through the use of those paradigms and technologies introduced for Cross-Organizational Workflow, where the collaborating Workflow Engines are personal agents, designed to run on devices with limited computational power, and acting as peers.These agents will then cooperate in order to enact the business processes.