workflow

[ wurk-floh ]

noun

1. the flow or amount of work to and from an office, department, or employee.

Word History and Origins

Origin of workflow¹

First recorded in 1945–50; work + flow

Example Sentences

Experience: Certified project manager professional, Six Sigma Black Belt and workflow analyst.

From Los Angeles Times

In this analog environment computers are used to manage workflow, and a processor upstairs transfers digital design files to make polymer plates used for most jobs.

From Los Angeles Times

In 2018, Professor Kwok's team successfully created the world's first robotic system capable of performing bilateral stereotactic neurosurgery in an MRI environment, addressing the challenges of long procedural times and complicated workflow.

From Science Daily

To do this, Risatti explains that the team established a workflow using standard techniques to streamline processes to analyze the visual characteristics, called phenotype, and to analyze their genotype with genomic sequencing.

From Science Daily

“It is dependent on the workflow, the task flows and the operations of an entire office.”

From Seattle Times

More About Workflow

What is a workflow?

A workflow is most often a series of repeatable steps in completing a work project, such as creating a product (like a computer) or performing a service (like writing an article). For example, the steps in writing a news article might include:

1. Receive an assignment from your editor.
2. Research the topic.
3. Interview people involved.
4. Write an outline of the article.
5. Write the article.
6. Edit the article.
7. Hand in the article to your editor.

When a workflow involves more than one person, it will describe all the steps to be done as well as who will do them. It might also describe how long each step should take, where any physical objects should be moved to (as in manufacturing), and other details important to managing the workflow.

Workflow is also the amount of work one or more workers or an entire organization has at one time, as in The machine shop’s workflow was so high that they hired temporary help.

Example: The consultant was able to change the steps in our manufacturing workflow, and now we are sending out product orders on time.

Where does workflow come from?

The first records of workflow come from around the 1940s. It combines the terms work and flow.

Did you know ... ?

What are some synonyms for workflow?

• plan
• process
• system
• progress

What are some words that share a root or word element with workflow? 

• work
• flow
• workforce
• flow chart
• flow sheet

What are some words that often get used in discussing workflow?

• department
• mapping
• optimize
• speed

How is workflow used in real life?

Workflow is most often used to describe the steps or processes involved in creating a product or performing a service.

People wanna get out the 9 to 5 zone but don‘t know the other side is 24/7 workflow

— OZ (@ozmusicproducer) July 1, 2021

If your checkout workflow doesn’t have PayPal, Amazon Pay, and Apple Pay in 2018 — you’re burning money and blaming marketing people.

— Web Smith (@web) August 22, 2018

Most enterprise software is simply taking something that was done on spreadsheets and building a system of record and a workflow engine around it

— Bhavin Turakhia (@bhavintu) September 16, 2021

 

Try using workflow!

Is workflow used correctly in the following sentence?

“I made my workflow much simpler and faster by upgrading from a tablet to a computer.”