Pattern description

Workflows, by definition, are a series of steps that are related to each other. These steps may require interaction with outside resources. Typically, these resources are other systems and the interaction can complete in an automated fashion without any human intervention. In some cases, the workflows require human intervention to fix and correct data, or the workflows are totally related to human processes like a document approval process. When a workflow is related to human activity, it is known as a Human Workflow.

Human workflows can interact with people in several ways. Some of these include SharePoint, e-mail, text messaging, instant messenger, and web forms. What makes human workflows different from non-human workflows is the variability introduced by the human factor. People can be slow to respond, out of town, unwell, or have other factors that prevent them from interacting with the workflow as expected. This adds a degree of uncertainty to all human workflows...