Manual Task
A Manual Task represents work performed by a person without any process engine or application assistance. The process engine cannot track its progress-completion is reported externally.
What is a Manual Task?
A Manual Task is work performed entirely by humans without workflow system involvement. Unlike User Tasks where the engine assigns and tracks work, Manual Tasks happen outside the system-the engine simply waits for external notification of completion.
Visual Representation
A Manual Task shows a rounded rectangle containing a hand icon. The hand symbolizes human/manual work performed without system assistance.
Key Characteristics
- No system involvement: Work happens outside any application or workflow system
- External completion: Process engine waits for external signal that work is done
- No worklist: Does not appear in task lists or assignment queues
- Real-world actions: Represents physical activities that cannot be digitized
Common mistake
Using Manual Tasks for work that should be tracked in a system. If the person uses any software to do the work (even a simple form), it should be a User Task, not a Manual Task.
How it connects
Common Use Cases
Physical Inspection
A quality inspector physically examines products on the manufacturing floor without using any digital checklist.
Phone Call
An employee makes a phone call to a customer; the system cannot track the conversation, only that it happened.
Equipment Setup
A technician configures physical equipment that has no digital interface for the workflow system.
Frequently Asked Questions
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