Process Automation and Skills in the Context of Knowledge Work (Short Paper)

Dries Jarijch; Mieke Jans; Jan Mendling

doi:10.1007/978-3-032-13426-4_14

Process Automation and Skills in the Context of Knowledge Work (Short Paper)

Dries Jarijch^*
, Mieke Jans
, Jan Mendling

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference article in proceeding › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

The rise in digitization has significantly expanded the application of process automation beyond traditional engineering, as there is now a substantial increase in automation tools available for white-collar professionals. In this study, we aim to gain a better understanding of the interaction between process automation and skills in the context of applied knowledge work. Different relevant theoretical models relating to process automation, from the fields of engineering, information systems, and the applied domain of accounting, are examined. Insights from these models are then combined into a single unified model describing process automation. This short paper reports on a pre-study to closely examine in which way elements of automation affect knowledge worker skills. We also highlight two gaps in the literature regarding the context in which optimal automation effects occur and the lack of research regarding reskilling.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Business Process Management Workshops
Subtitle of host publication	BPM 2025 International Workshops, Revised Selected Papers
Editors	Inge van de Weerd, Bedilia Estrada Torres, Han van der Aa
Publisher	Springer Verlag
Pages	187-195
Number of pages	9
ISBN (Print)	9783032134257
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-13426-4_14
Publication status	Published - 1 Jan 2026
Event	International Conference on Business Process Management, BPM 2025 - Seville, Spain Duration: 31 Aug 2025 → 5 Sept 2025 https://www.bpm2025seville.org/

Publication series

Series	Lecture Notes in Business Information Processing
Number	569
ISSN	1865-1348

Conference

Conference	International Conference on Business Process Management, BPM 2025
Country/Territory	Spain
City	Seville
Period	31/08/25 → 5/09/25
Internet address	https://www.bpm2025seville.org/

Keywords

Knowledge worker skills
Process Automation Effects
Unified model

Access to Document

10.1007/978-3-032-13426-4_14

Cite this

Jarijch, Dries ; Jans, Mieke ; Mendling, Jan. / Process Automation and Skills in the Context of Knowledge Work (Short Paper). Business Process Management Workshops : BPM 2025 International Workshops, Revised Selected Papers. editor / Inge van de Weerd ; Bedilia Estrada Torres ; Han van der Aa. Springer Verlag, 2026. pp. 187-195 (Lecture Notes in Business Information Processing; No. 569).

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abstract = "The rise in digitization has significantly expanded the application of process automation beyond traditional engineering, as there is now a substantial increase in automation tools available for white-collar professionals. In this study, we aim to gain a better understanding of the interaction between process automation and skills in the context of applied knowledge work. Different relevant theoretical models relating to process automation, from the fields of engineering, information systems, and the applied domain of accounting, are examined. Insights from these models are then combined into a single unified model describing process automation. This short paper reports on a pre-study to closely examine in which way elements of automation affect knowledge worker skills. We also highlight two gaps in the literature regarding the context in which optimal automation effects occur and the lack of research regarding reskilling.",

keywords = "Knowledge worker skills, Process Automation Effects, Unified model",

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note = "data source:; International Conference on Business Process Management, BPM 2025 ; Conference date: 31-08-2025 Through 05-09-2025",

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Jarijch, D, Jans, M & Mendling, J 2026, Process Automation and Skills in the Context of Knowledge Work (Short Paper). in I van de Weerd, B Estrada Torres & H van der Aa (eds), Business Process Management Workshops : BPM 2025 International Workshops, Revised Selected Papers. Springer Verlag, Lecture Notes in Business Information Processing, no. 569, pp. 187-195, International Conference on Business Process Management, BPM 2025, Seville, Spain, 31/08/25. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-13426-4_14

Process Automation and Skills in the Context of Knowledge Work (Short Paper). / Jarijch, Dries; Jans, Mieke; Mendling, Jan.
Business Process Management Workshops : BPM 2025 International Workshops, Revised Selected Papers. ed. / Inge van de Weerd; Bedilia Estrada Torres; Han van der Aa. Springer Verlag, 2026. p. 187-195 (Lecture Notes in Business Information Processing; No. 569).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference article in proceeding › Academic › peer-review

TY - GEN

T1 - Process Automation and Skills in the Context of Knowledge Work (Short Paper)

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AU - Jans, Mieke

AU - Mendling, Jan

N1 - data source:

PY - 2026/1/1

Y1 - 2026/1/1

N2 - The rise in digitization has significantly expanded the application of process automation beyond traditional engineering, as there is now a substantial increase in automation tools available for white-collar professionals. In this study, we aim to gain a better understanding of the interaction between process automation and skills in the context of applied knowledge work. Different relevant theoretical models relating to process automation, from the fields of engineering, information systems, and the applied domain of accounting, are examined. Insights from these models are then combined into a single unified model describing process automation. This short paper reports on a pre-study to closely examine in which way elements of automation affect knowledge worker skills. We also highlight two gaps in the literature regarding the context in which optimal automation effects occur and the lack of research regarding reskilling.

AB - The rise in digitization has significantly expanded the application of process automation beyond traditional engineering, as there is now a substantial increase in automation tools available for white-collar professionals. In this study, we aim to gain a better understanding of the interaction between process automation and skills in the context of applied knowledge work. Different relevant theoretical models relating to process automation, from the fields of engineering, information systems, and the applied domain of accounting, are examined. Insights from these models are then combined into a single unified model describing process automation. This short paper reports on a pre-study to closely examine in which way elements of automation affect knowledge worker skills. We also highlight two gaps in the literature regarding the context in which optimal automation effects occur and the lack of research regarding reskilling.

KW - Knowledge worker skills

KW - Process Automation Effects

KW - Unified model

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DO - 10.1007/978-3-032-13426-4_14

M3 - Conference article in proceeding

SN - 9783032134257

T3 - Lecture Notes in Business Information Processing

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EP - 195

BT - Business Process Management Workshops

A2 - van de Weerd, Inge

A2 - Estrada Torres, Bedilia

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T2 - International Conference on Business Process Management, BPM 2025

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Jarijch D, Jans M, Mendling J. Process Automation and Skills in the Context of Knowledge Work (Short Paper). In van de Weerd I, Estrada Torres B, van der Aa H, editors, Business Process Management Workshops : BPM 2025 International Workshops, Revised Selected Papers. Springer Verlag. 2026. p. 187-195. (Lecture Notes in Business Information Processing; No. 569). doi: 10.1007/978-3-032-13426-4_14

Process Automation and Skills in the Context of Knowledge Work (Short Paper)

Abstract

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