workflow
WORK-floh
/ˈwɜːk.fləʊ/
The sequence of industrial, administrative, or other processes through which a piece of work passes from initiation to completion.
Workflow focuses on the 'path' a task takes, often visualized as a diagram or a series of steps.
The story behind the word. A relatively modern compound word that gained popularity in the 1920s with the rise of industrial engineering and 'scientific management' (Taylorism).
Word relationships
- process: A process is a set of rules; a workflow is the actual execution and movement of tasks through those rules.
- chaos: Chaos is the absence of any structured sequence or flow.
Commonly confused with
- procedure: A procedure is a specific way of doing one task; a workflow is the sequence of many tasks.
Collocations
- optimize workflow
- disrupt workflow
- automated workflow
- workflow management
Example sentences
- "We need to document our workflow so that new hires can understand how a feature goes from idea to code." Software Development
- "Using a digital task manager has completely transformed my daily workflow." Office Productivity
Memory hook
Think of a 'lazy river' at a water park—the 'work' is the person in the tube, and the 'flow' is the path the water takes them. The path from start to finish.
When not to use
Don't use it to describe a single action; it refers to the entire chain of actions.
Fun facts
- The first 'workflow' diagrams were likely Gantt charts, developed by Henry Gantt in the 1910s to track ship construction.
Related words
Explore more words
supply chain, lead time, sequential, sequence, streamline, output
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