In WorkSpace, a business process is executed in several automatic and manual steps. To illustrate how this works, we outline a typical workflow.
- A participant logs in to WorkSpace. There may or may not be existing instances for the participant to work on. This is a function of the availability of instances in general, and also of the roles which are assigned to the participant.
- If no instances are present, a participant with permission to generate an instance can do so. For example, in a purchase order process, a customer orders a product and the seller initiates a purchase order instance. Alternatively, the BPM system creates the instance automatically, for example due to a purchase being made from a Web site.
- The BPM system generates the
instance and makes it available to those participants assigned to roles that allow them to handle the first task
of the instance.
- One of the participants who can handle the first task sees
the new instance in his inbox. The participant assesses the work required and views
any notes and attached files included with the instance. If necessary, the
participant can send a consultation to another participant to ask a question
about the instance.
- The participant executes the task. The appropriate application launches
automatically, the participant
enters the required information, and the task is submitted.
- The BPM system processes the
instance and sends it to the participant
assigned to the next task. Depending on how the process is designed, a single participant can handle more than one task.
- The next participant performs
the task, and the BPM system processes
it and sends the instance to the next task and participant.
- The result of a given activity may determine the next activity chosen. For example,
if the purchase order requires a product which is
out of stock, the process will require a different activity than if the product is in stock.
- Once the every task and activity applicable to an instance has been completed, the process is complete, and the instance ends.