Putting the SWORD to the Test: Finding Workarounds with Process Mining

Authors

Wouter van der Waal, Utrecht UniversityFollow
Inge van de Weerd, Utrecht University
Iris Beerepoot, Utrecht University
Xixi Lu, Utrecht University
Teus Kappen, University Medical Center Utrecht
Saskia Haitjema, University Medical Center Utrecht
Hajo A. Reijers, Utrecht University

Document Type

Research Paper

Abstract

Workarounds, or deviations from standardized operating procedures, can indicate discrepancies between theory and practice in work processes. Traditionally, observations and interviews have been used to identify workarounds, but these methods can be time-consuming and may not capture all workarounds. The paper presents the Semi-automated WORkaround Detection (SWORD) framework, which leverages event log traces to help process analysts identify workarounds. The framework is evaluated in a multiple-case study of two hospital departments. The results of the study indicate that with SWORD we were able to identify 11 unique workaround types, with limited knowledge about the actual processes. The framework thus supports the discovery of workarounds while minimizing the dependence on domain knowledge, which limits the time investment required by domain experts. The findings highlight the importance of leveraging technology to improve the detection of workarounds and to support process improvement efforts in organizations.

Recommended Citation

van der Waal, Wouter; van de Weerd, Inge; Beerepoot, Iris; Lu, Xixi; Kappen, Teus; Haitjema, Saskia; and Reijers, Hajo A. (2025) "Putting the SWORD to the Test: Finding Workarounds with Process Mining," Business & Information Systems Engineering: Vol. 67: Iss. 2, 171-190.
Available at: https://aisel.aisnet.org/bise/vol67/iss2/3