Let's talk about the workflow engine.

The workflow engine is an important component of the BOS system. It defines the workflow model based on the customer's specific business logic. Entire Application Program It runs according to the defined process. It separates the application system module from the workflow. When the process changes, you only need to modify the process model, and the specific application does not need to be modified.

According to the WfMC standard, we divide the workflow into several modules.

· Process Definition Model
· User end
· Workflow engine
· Modeling tools
· Organizational Structure

The dotted box represents the server side of the workflow. It is transparent to users. The user operates the workflow engine through the client provided by the workflow engine. The client includes modeling tools, management tools, and task lists. The relationship between modules is shown in figure



Workflow operations can be divided into the modeling stage (Process Design & definition) and running stage (Run time). The running stage can also be divided into workflow engine end and client end.

The customer first establishes a workflow model definition through modeling tools ). The workflow engine submits specific tasks to users based on the information provided by the model. After logging in, you will find a new task in the task list. After the execution is selected, the preset application is activated. During application execution, the called Application exchanges data with the workflow engine. Shows the current running status of the workflow engine. After the task is completed, the workflow engine receives feedback and submits the task to the next person based on the process until the entire task is completed.



We will use a simple example to explain the role of the workflow engine.

The above is a hypothetical sales flow chart. Any workflow includes the Start Node and end node. The Start node can be a separate node or hidden in a task node. In, a clue is a starting node. After a user obtains a clue, the first step is to enter the clue. Because the next step is to contact customer, which must be done by the sales representative, and there are multiple sales representatives, the workflow engine will assign the task to the sales manager. The Sales Manager assigns the task to a sales representative. The sales representative will see the task in his task list. When he contacts the customer and finds that the customer may buy our product, he enters the relevant information into the database. The ring is finished. The workflow engine sends the task to the next step. If the customer is not interested, move to the end node. This workflow ends.

The next step is to establish a sales plan, which must be done by the marketing department manager. Because there is only one marketing manager, the task is directly assigned to the marketing manager ). After marketing manager makes a sales plan, the company's CEO and CFO are required to approve the plan. After both managers approve the application, the information will be fed back to the sales manager. If the CEO's review fails, the sales manager needs to modify the sales plan and then approve the application until it passes the review. The next step is to visit the customer. If everything goes well, you can get the order and the whole process is over. The preceding example is a hypothetical example, but it reflects some important functions of the workflow engine.

1. All you see is your own task list. After the task is completed, the workflow engine assigns the task to the owner of the next step based on the process.
2. Each task is completed by a role. The workflow engine determines who will perform the task based on the organizational structure.
3. Some processes (approval) need to be repeated until they are approved.
4. In some processes (approval), all the pre-tasks (CEO review and CFO Review) must be completed before entering the next stage.
5. Some processes do not require human intervention. For example, the approval node automatically sends the results to the marketing department manager after the CEO and CFO have completed their approval.

The workflow engine is transparent to users and users can operate on it through its clients. You can use modeling tools to create models and use the task list to understand your current task. Use Management Tools to maintain workflows.