A workflow solution provides the following key abilities
- Model (visually) the Solution
- Breakdown into Activities
- Change Dynamically
What is special about Workflow based solutions?
Without going into the specifics of the Windows Workflow Foundation platform, here are a couple of things that differentiate a workflow based solution.
1. Visual Nature: Traditional solutions (non-workflow) can be implemented for the given requirements but typically lack an overview of the entire process/solution to the creators as well as to the users of these solutions.
2. Breakdown into activities: The implementation logic becomes very clear by the activity breakdown and can hold appeal to a wide spectrum of users.
3. Capability to dynamically modify the execution flow: Real life changes in real-time and the workflow solution allows dynamically changing the execution model.
Link: The Architecture Journal - Build Applications on a Workflow Platform (David Green)