A workflow is an organised sequence of actions, decisions and information transfers that leads to a defined outcome.
What does this mean in practice?
A useful description identifies the starting point, subsequent steps, people responsible and completion criteria. Some steps can be automated, while decisions requiring judgement remain with a person.
Example use case
An invoice is entered in a register, sent to an approver and then passed to the agreed recipient. Each stage has a status showing whose action is needed next.
Things to consider
Account for exceptions: missing information, rejection or an unavailable decision-maker. The automation should also provide a way to report errors.
Related terms
See also: Automation.
Sources: Microsoft Learn — cloud flows.