Workflow

Intro

Workflow is an orchestrated, repeatable pattern of business activity that transforms materials, provides services, or processes information. It organizes resources into defined processes.

Key points:

• Makes work predictable and measurable.
• Enables automation and standardization.
• Common use cases across EA/BPM/Data/App/Tech include approvals, fulfillment, and case management.
• Pitfall: rigid workflows that ignore exceptions and learning.

Examples:

• Purchase approval with thresholds and escalations.
• Customer onboarding across sales, risk, and service.
• Incident triage and resolution in IT operations.

In practice:

Model workflows with clear roles, inputs/outputs, and KPIs; automate high‑volume, rule‑based steps first.

Related terms: Workflow Automation; Process; BPMN

FAQs:

Q: Is workflow the same as process?
A: Workflow is a type of process emphasizing orchestrated tasks and resources.

Q: Can workflows be ad hoc?
A: Yes, but define rules for flexibility and governance.

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