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Workflow Instances & Execution

Summary​

An instance records the chosen definition/version, workflow key, subject type/id, initiator, context, current stage, tasks, result and dates.

Business Purpose​

Bind a published approval process to a concrete business subject.

Actors​

Workflow authors, approvers, delegates, process initiators, tenant administrators, product owners, support teams and owners of connected business modules.

Business Flow​

A caller starts by definition ID or key. Context is serialized, the earliest applicable stage opens, and tasks are created. If no stage applies, the instance completes immediately.

Responsibilities​

Authors maintain valid draft steps before publication. Initiating modules supply a subject and routing context. Approvers act only on applicable pending tasks. Tenant and service owners govern access, integration enablement and operational support.

Business Rules​

The latest published version is used. Stages are evaluated in ascending order. Instance decisions require Running status.

Integrations​

Workflow Service owns definitions, versions, instances and tasks. Connected modules can synchronously start and read instances when their integration is enabled; lifecycle domain events are persisted to an outbox and relayed as integration events.

Limitations​

There is no instance list endpoint, search, cancellation, pause, retry, due date or ownership transfer. Context validation and subject existence are the initiating module's responsibility.

Requires Confirmation​

Production enablement, approver-role naming, upstream access enforcement, terminal decision propagation, notification ownership, retention and operating procedures require confirmation.

Source References​

  • microservices/src/workflow-service/Domain/Workflow/WorkflowInstance.cs
  • microservices/src/workflow-service/Application/Commands/WorkflowInstanceCommands.cs
  • microservices/src/workflow-service/Application/Dtos.cs
  • microservices/src/workflow-service/Api/WorkflowEndpoints.cs

See Also​

Keywords​

Workflow, approval, definition, version, task, delegation.

Revision Information​

Draft source-backed business documentation reviewed on 2026-07-20; next quarterly review is 2026-10-20.