workflows

A workflow is a defined sequence of tasks and decisions that produce a specific output or outcome. It frames who does what, in which order, and what data or resources are required. Workflows can be manual, automated, or a combination, and are often implemented to standardize processes and improve efficiency. The term is used in information technology, business process management, and scientific computing.

Core components include tasks or activities, roles or actors, transitions or dependencies, inputs and outputs, rules or conditions, and data artifacts. A workflow may be modeled as a flowchart, a state machine, or a declarative specification, and many organizations use workflow management systems or orchestration engines to execute and monitor it. Types include sequential, parallel, conditional, looping, and event-driven workflows, as well as domain-specific forms such as approval workflows.

Common applications range from corporate approvals, document routing, and IT incident response to software delivery pipelines (CI/CD), research pipelines, and content publishing. A workflow engine schedules tasks, manages state, enforces permissions, and logs provenance to support auditing and compliance.

Benefits include greater consistency, repeatability, transparency, and efficiency, along with easier compliance and scalability. Challenges include design complexity, data integration, error handling, version control, and ensuring accessibility and security across tasks and systems.

Related concepts include business process management, process mining, and data workflows.