What does workflow mean?
A workflow is the organized route that work follows from beginning to end. It includes the order of tasks, the decisions involved, the people or systems responsible for each stage, and the hand-offs between those stages. The word is especially common in business, office administration, software, and project management, where it can refer either to an actual process or to a formal representation of that process. A workflow is more specific than a general method: it emphasizes the movement and sequence of work rather than merely the principles used to perform it. For example, an approval workflow might specify that a request is prepared by one person, reviewed by a manager, and recorded by a finance team. The term is also useful when discussing efficiency, since improving a workflow often means reducing delays, removing unnecessary steps, or clarifying responsibilities. Although workflow can sound like technical jargon, it is fully established in ordinary professional English.
nounA workflow is an organized sequence of tasks, decisions, or activities through which work passes from its beginning to completion. The term is commonly used in business, administration, and computing to describe the steps and procedures that make up a process.
- An organized sequence of connected tasks, decisions, or activities through which work is completed.
- The routing or movement of work through an organization, system, or process, often involving multiple departments or stages.
"The new approval workflow reduced the time required to authorize expenses."
"Our team revised the workflow so that requests reach the appropriate department immediately."
"The software supports each stage of the publishing workflow, from drafting to approval."
The regular plural is workflows, used when referring to multiple distinct processes or sequences.
"The company introduced separate workflows for purchasing and employee onboarding."
A workflow turns “we should” into a sequence of steps that someone can actually follow.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of workflow
Workflow is an English compound formed from the words work and flow. The term was in use by the early twentieth century for the flow or course of work. In later business and computing usage, it developed into a term for the organized sequence of steps through which tasks, documents, or information move toward completion.
How workflow is actually used
Usually a countable noun in business, technology, administration, and creative work. It can sound mildly technical or managerial, but it is also natural in general descriptions of how tasks are organized.
Easily confused with workflow
A workflow is the sequence or organization of work, whereas a workload is the amount of work assigned to a person, team, or system.