Basic Approval Workflow

The Basic Approval Workflow template illustrates one type of alternate flow control where only a single path is taken based on the completion status of the previous task. This workflow is initiated when the system receives an order. Then, an account manager must access the relevant ordering system, review the order details, and either approve or reject the order. If the order is rejected, then it is returned by the system. If the order is approved, then a fulfillment manager must complete the order.

Basic Approval Workflow Diagram

Workflow Diagram for the Basic Approval Workflow

This workflow uses the Exclusive Choice workflow pattern.

The following figure shows the workflow tree for the Basic Approval Workflow.

Workflow Tree for the Basic Approval Workflow

The following table provides details about the elements of the Basic Approval Workflow:

Basic Approval Workflow Elements
Element Name	Element Type	Details
Process Invoker	Data Object	Default data object of type Short Text defined for all templates. Holds the user name of the person who starts an instance of this workflow.1
Process Title	Data Object	Default data object of type Short Text defined for all templates. Holds the title for the workflow instance.1
Account Manager	Data Object	Data object of type Short Text defined for all instances. Holds the group name used by the @Account Manager swimlane policy.1 The default value is US Region Accountants.
Fulfillment Manager	Data Object	Data object of type Short Text defined for all instances. Holds the group name used by the @Fulfillment Manager swimlane policy.1 The default value is US Region Supply Managers.
Cancel	Status	Default status value defined for all templates.2
Done	Status	Default status value defined for all templates.2
sasadm	Participant	This is a User type participant assigned to the root level and each task with the workflow role of Business Administrator. This is a default SAS administrator user configured with the platform in the SAS Authorization Service. The Business Administrator role supports certain administrative tasks such as adding comments, delegating or transferring the task, or releasing the task locked by another user.
Review Order	Task	This is a manual task that represents the user interacting with the system. Once the user completes the review and submits the relevant status, the relevant status is assigned when this task completes. The next task is selected based on the status value as assigned to the transition.
@Account Manager	Policy/Swimlane	The swimlane corresponds to a group participant defined in the workflow data object Account Manager. The value in the data object is assigned at run time using this policy. Only users who are members of this group can review orders. The group is an implicit value. Therefore, the value assigned to the data object must exist as a group in the SAS Authorization Service. For example, the default value is US Region Accountants. When starting a workflow instance, an initial value must be made for this data object. Otherwise, there must be a group defined with that name in the SAS Authorization Service. Because the workflow role assigned is Potential Owner, any user from that group can claim the task. Once it is claimed, the user becomes the Actual Owner, the task is locked, and no others users can perform the task.3
Approve	Status	Status value defined for Review Order.4
Reject	Status	Status value defined for Review Order.4
Return Order	Task	This is a system task (that is, automated task) that initiates if the order is rejected. Once completed, the workflow instance ends with a status of Cancel because this task transitions to the terminate node.
Workflow Started`->`Add Status to Workflow	Policy	This policy assigns the Cancel status because it is an automated task (that is, is not explicitly performed like the previous manual task). This status value stops the Return Order task and triggers the final transition into the terminate node.
Complete Order	Task	This is a manual task that represents the user interacting with the system. This task starts if the order is approved. Then, the workflow instance ends with a status of Done because this task transitions to the terminate node.
@Fulfillment Manager	Policy/Swimlane	The swimlane corresponds to a group participant defined in the workflow data object Fulfillment Manager. The value in the data object is assigned at run time using this policy. Only users who are members of this group can complete orders. The group is an implicit value. Therefore, the value assigned to the data object must exist as a group in the SAS Authorization Service. For example, the default value is US Region Supply Managers. If an initial value assignment is not made for this data object when starting a workflow instance, there must be a group defined with that name in the SAS Authorization Service. Because the workflow role assigned is Potential Owner, any user from that group can claim the task. Once it is claimed, the user becomes the Actual Owner, the task is locked and no others users can perform the task.3
1This data object value is defined at the root level. This allows access to the value by decisions and policies at run time by all contained tasks and subflows. However, the value is not accessible as a local copy of the data object.
2This status value is defined at the root level. This allows access to the value by decisions and policies at run time by all contained tasks and subflows. However, the value is not accessible as a local copy of the status.
3Only users can be assigned to the Actual Owner workflow role. Participants of a SAS platform authorization group or role type must be assigned as Potential Owner and their user members must claim the task to become Actual Owner.
4This status value is defined at the task level. This allows access to the value by decisions and policies at run time by all contained tasks and subflows. However, the value is not accessible as a local copy of the status.

Last updated: March 5, 2020