Typical Workflow

In WorkSpace, a business process is executed in several automatic and manual steps. To illustrate how this works, we outline a typical workflow.

  1. A participant logs in to WorkSpace. There may or may not be existing work items for the participant to work on. This is a function of the availability of work items in general, and also of the roles that are assigned to the participant.
  2. If no work items are present, a participant who's role allows him to generate a work item can do so. For example, in a purchase order process, a customer orders a product and the person who receives the order at initiates a purchase order work item. Alternatively, the BPM system creates the work item automatically, for example due to a purchase being made from a Web site.
  3. The BPM system generates the work item and makes it available to those participants assigned to roles that allow them to handle the first task of the work item.
  4. One of the participants who can handle the first task sees the new work item in his inbox. The participant assesses the work required and views any notes and attached files included with the work item. If necessary, the participant can send a consultation to another participant to ask a question about the work item.
  5. The participant executes the task. The appropriate application launches automatically, the participant enters the required information, and the task is submitted.
  6. The BPM system processes the work item 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.
  7. The next participant performs the task, and the BPM system processes it and sends the work item to the next task and participant.
  8. 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.
  9. Once the every task and activity applicable to a work item has been completed, the process is complete, and the work item ends.