How do you define a workflow consultant?

[ronen_weisz]

Here is a little problem I have, how do you define an SAP workflow consultant? developer?

For example, my wife is a nurse; think about that for a moment, I just told you what she does in one word, no need to explain this to everybody, they will immediately understand.

A friend of mine gave me this definition: "You help people be lazy", might be true but not very defining. I came up with "I make people approve stuff!" or if you want something more formal "I help move the processes in the organization faster…". Now you can say: your problem is not with the workflow, it's with the SAP consultant part, first explain that, and then we will see about the workflow .

But I'm still looking for an answer.

So if anyone has a simple definition which does not require a 10 slides presentation, I would love to know it.

How do you define a workflow consultant?

[pokrakam · Accepted solution]

Gosh, what's with all these philosophical questions today?

Standard consultant's answer: It depends...

In this case, it depends who's asking. Outside of SAP I describe myself as IT consultant, or I "do (business) process management within IT". If I want them to go away then I'm a developer - most people understand that and it lets me move the discussion on quickly. Other times I'm a solution architect. I do few pure WF roles these days anyway.

My favorite analogy is designing the IT equivalent of conveyor belts that move parts amongst the machines and people in a factory. It also works well when people blame workflow for an application error: The conveyor belt is not at fault if a broken part arrives.

Regards,

Mike

[ronen_weisz · Accepted solution]

Well, I guess I've seen a little bit too many "Hi, I'm new to workflow..." questions. so I thought a philosophical question will be an nice change.

I'm starting to agree with the "it depends..." answer, the conveyor belt is a nice one as well.

[Jocelyn_Dart · Accepted solution]

Nice one Mike!  Mind you on occasion the conveyor belt might have some detection processes in place to divert that faulty part

[olgavas]

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This is actually a very good question. As an FI functional consultant,  I faced a situation where changes were needed in the approval matrix for parked documents workflow. The approvals determination logic were quite complicated, somehow I handled it, there was a lot of pain. Now, the workflows work as expected, but my management didn’t even realize this was outside my actual responsibilities. 

[SandySingh]

Workforce Task modeller and governance engineer

[ronen_weisz]

I think it will be easier to explain the original...  

[Former Member]

Well, SAP Business Workflow is SAP's Business Process Modeling tool.

So a workflow consultant is someone who

"Defines and models business processes in the BPM tool of SAP to ensure that at the correct moment the correct information is given to the correct person or persons thus streamlining business processes"

Does this help at all?

Cheers, Rob.

PS also put his in coffee corner, would be interested to find out how other non workflow consultants describe us.

[anjan_paul]

Hi,

  Automation Engineer.