An example of the flow of work is the process for getting an employee's paid time-off request approved.
Understanding Flow of Work
The "flow of work," often referred to as a workflow, describes the sequence of steps or tasks required to complete a particular process from start to finish. It represents the path a task or piece of information takes as it moves through various stages, potentially involving different people or systems. Efficient workflows are crucial for productivity and consistency in any organization.
Typical Examples of Workflows
Based on common business operations, several scenarios illustrate the flow of work. Typical examples of workflows include the following:
- Approval of employee paid time-off requests. This involves an employee submitting a request, a manager reviewing and approving or denying it, and potentially HR or payroll being notified. Each step is a part of the flow.
- Billing and invoicing. This workflow might start with completing a service or selling a product, then generating an invoice, sending it to the customer, tracking payment, and recording the transaction.
- Customer onboarding. This process involves integrating a new customer into a service or platform, which could include account setup, training, initial support, and verification steps.
These examples highlight how tasks move sequentially through defined stages to achieve a specific outcome, demonstrating the practical application of the flow of work concept.
