A workflow is a sequence of steps or connected work
stages and work activities performed by a person or a team, to accomplish a
specific goal. A sequential workflow is
a workflow where each stage of the work is dependent on the preceding stage. In
this case the completion of the activities on a preceding workflow stage
controls the advancement of the work to the next workflow stage. The figure
below represents a sequential workflow. In this book we use the word workflow
as a synonym for sequential workflow.
The
video for manufacturing the 737 Boeing depicts very clearly the workflow work
and work itself. Currently the video is available at YouTube.com (search for “Boeing
737 manufacturing”).
Sequential
workflow representation
A workflow
typically has feedback loop between adjacent work stages. This is an effective mechanism
to improve the workflow. The subsequent stage is the consumer of the work from
the previous stage. Therefore, the subsequent stage is the best source of
feedback for the work it consumes.
Workflow
feedback loop
A manufacturing
production line is an example of a workflow. The video below shows the Boeing
737 manufacturing line. In this example, the work (the aircraft under
construction) slowly moves along an assembly line through all the work stages,
where different activities are performed by a person or a team. Parts, equipment
and tools are available at each work stage.
Another example
of workflow is the creation of an e-commerce website. This workflow would have
stages such as analysis, coding, testing and deploying. These two sample workflows--the aircraft
manufacturing and the e-commerce website creation--have different workflow
representations. The aircraft is built on a physically moving assembly line. The
working team, parts, equipment and tools are made available at the required workflow
stages, and the item under production --the aircraft-- physically moves through
the workflow stages. You can see the work as it moves along the workflow. On
the other hand, the e-commerce website creation does not have physical parts
moving along an assembly line. Yet it is still a workflow. For such cases, we
can create visual representation of the work, and the workflow stages. The
chapters to follow go in details on software development work stages, and
visual representations of its workflow.
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