Overview
of Oracle Workflow
This
post will explain the concepts of a workflow and describe the separate
components within the Oracle Workflow module.
A workflow consists of numerous processes. Workflow
processes represent business process flows and information routing. Oracle
Workflow defines process rules. Each workflow process contains a set of
activities, which can be notifications, PL/SQL stored procedures, or another sub
process. The flow of business processes is less efficient when the information
is not routed to the appropriate person(s) or group. The two needs are
interdependent. The flow of business processes in Oracle Workflow can have
decision points (branches), parallel flows, and loops. A decision point
(branch) is where a decision must be made. Various flow options result from
choices made at the decision point. Parallel flows are business processes that
flow simultaneously. You can decide whether one, some, or all parallel flows
must be completed before moving on to the next step. Loops are business
processes that flow back to an activity completed earlier.
In
the past, information routing was performed primarily on paper. Now,
information routing is usually performed through electronic messaging—emails.
Electronic messaging is much more efficient, especially if your business
process flow includes external organizations or personnel. For example,
utilizing email, you can alert relevant parties that a decision needs to be made.
You can also notify users when there are current or potential problems, and you
can use notifications to solicit responses.
Oracle
Workflow drives items or transactions of specific types through workflow
processes. If, for example, you use the purchase order approval workflow
process, the item type would be the purchase order. Purchase orders of one item
type will comprise one specific purchase order. All items that have the same
item type share the same set of attributes. Attributes consist of item-type
data. Each item will have its own set of attribute values. In this purchase
order example, attributes can be the purchase order number and supplier; values
can be PO-12345 and ABC Supplier.
The workflow process encompasses the entire
process, from purchase order creation to completion. A completed purchase order
can be approved, rejected, or cancelled. Oracle Workflow makes sure that the
created purchase order is routed to the appropriate person(s) for approval and
that the correct procedures are followed throughout the entire workflow
process.
Review Questions
1.
What is a workflow?
2.
What can a business process flow contain?
3.
Why is Internet communication important in workflow management?
4.
What information can be communicated through notifications?
5.
What is the difference between a process and an activity?
