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Chapter 1
Why Workflows
This chapter explains why workflows are important for developing software, how they can provide a visual
understanding of user requirements and design blueprints, and the benefits of using workflow technology like
Windows Workflow Foundation (WF).
Tip ■ The first time I visited Microsoft’s campus for a software design review (SDR) I referred to Windows Workflow
Foundation as “WWF.” I was graciously informed by one of the original Workflow Team members that it should be called
WF (pronounced “dub eff”) to avoid any possible confusion with the World Wrestling Federation or even the World Wildlife
Fund. For the remainder of the book I will refer to Windows Workflow Foundation as WF.
A workflow is a visual representation of the logical flow of steps for accomplishing a goal or task. Writing software
that integrates with a workflow technology is a paradigm shift for most developers, who are used to writing traditional
code. So whenever I teach WF, I have found it helps if I explain how workflows can be used to model daily events like
buying groceries or getting an oil change, before discussing the characteristics of workflows, such as
Different types of workflows used for modeling.•
Flow behavior of workflows like sequential or parallel.•
How a workflow can be reused within other workflows.•
Before I dig into the technical features of WF, this chapter will explain how workflows help developers thoroughly
understand processes so that they can develop better solutions. Once you have grasped the basics of workflows and
the processes they model, you will find it much easier to understand when (and why) WF is the right framework for
developing software solutions.
Business Processes
A process is a series of steps that must be completed to perform a desired unit of work and can be modeled using
workflows. Modeling processes as workflows is nothing new: in fact, humans have been modeling processes for
centuries. It seems that as our ancestors learned how to think, they also learned how to model their ideas. Models
provide a representation for an existing artifact or concept. After a model is built it can be used for studying and
collecting valuable information about the artifact it represents.
Without modeling, what would the world be like today? We would not have airplanes or be able to cross over
large bodies of water via bridges or ships. Medical science would not be quite as far advanced as it is today without
people like Leonardo Da Vinci, who drew the first concepts of human anatomy.
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