Datasheet

Figure 1-8
Think about some of the applications and projects you’ve worked on during your career as a developer.
You can probably think of several instances where a workflow platform could have come in handy. Now
think about workflow in the context of ongoing maintenance of a system that supports a business pro-
cess. One of the biggest advantages workflow provides to developers is a more efficient maintenance
model. Not only is it easier to work with a graphical representation of a process that you developed, but
coming up to speed on a workflow someone else developed is also much simpler.
The tools that are part of the .NET Framework, such as ASP.NET, provide you with a rich development
environment and enable you to focus on solving business problems rapidly. Windows Workflow
Foundation is no exception. By using a platform explicitly geared toward the specific domain of business
process, developers can garner a great deal of efficiency and focus.
Architects
It is the architect’s never-ending job to evaluate what systems are going to look like from a macro and
often a micro level. New technologies come along all the time, and it is up to the architect to determine
how these technologies fit in the overall system landscape.
Architects can use workflow to add value to their development efforts and the makeup of a particular
enterprise or individual project. They can also use workflows to interact with other pieces of technology.
For example, a workflow could coexist and communicate with existing LOB systems.
17
Chapter 1: An Introduction to Workflow and Windows Workflow Foundation
04_053867 ch01.qxp 2/20/07 2:40 PM Page 17