At programming shop where I work, the technical consultants that were brought in started using the term "workflow" to describe the software customizations we do from initial request to deployment in production, and it stuck. Then we implement Oracle, and they have their Workflow development product/tool. And, of course, we have a document imaging product that accounting department purchased called Workflow that we end up supporting as well. So when somebody mentions "workflow", nobody knows what they are talking about.
Needless to say, I was thrilled to death to find that digital photography uses the term "Workflow". Makes my ears cringe. Derek -------------- Original message ---------------------- From: Godfrey DiGiorgi <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Although I agree with your concept, I never once in my 20+ years of > being around software development efforts heard the word workflow in > connection with programming. There the term used was "logic". > > Workflow describes a higher level process sequence than the logic of > a computer program, in my opinion. I started hearing the word in > recent years in connection with user interface design and the study > of human factors engineering, not programming. I think the following > sentence characterizes the difference: > > "Computer programs follow logic, the causal sequence of their > instructions, while humans exploit workflow, the conceptual steps of > the endeavor to achieve a goal." > > Logic operates at the "start, do this, do this, test: if this then do > that, end" level. > > Workflow operates at the "transfer RAW files from camera storage to > computer storage, convert files to DNG format, open files with Bridge > and assign metadata template" or "remove film from camera and place > in processing tank, complete development process, dry film and view > on light table" level. > > Godfrey > > On Mar 28, 2006, at 1:53 PM, graywolf wrote: > > > Workflow is a term from programming. To write a program you have to > > figure out the steps and their order involved in completing a > > process. That is what workflow is. In fact any process that > > involves more than a single step has a workflow. You can not even > > make a cup of coffee without following a workflow. For instance you > > have a real problem if you try to drink the cup of coffee before > > putting it in the cup. > > > > However the term is mostly used by computer folk (and those > > terrible people, efficency experts) thus I can understand your not > > wanting to deal with it, Frank. >
