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Workflow is the tracking of what Worker or Workgroup will be associated with a given task in PCR-360. This tracking can assist a supervisor in following what work needs to be done, what is complete, and what is falling behind. There are many uses for Workflow that relate to Workers, Workgroups, and organizational efficiency.

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Workflow items will automatically populate to the Workflow tab based on the Service Desk Classification (SDC) templates that have been defined by the System Administrator. If the workflow is not automatically populated from the Service Desk Classification, or additional workflow is desired, it can be entered here. When a person or member of a Workgroup is selected to work on a Service Desk item, they will be notified via the My Service Desk portal.

  1. Click on the

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  1. WorkflowImage Added tab.

  2. Click the 

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  1. AddImage Added  button.

  2. In the data entry form, Users are prompted to select those parties who will be responsible for fulfilling the required Actions. Users must select a Workgroup and can additionally specify a Worker from lists defined by the User's organization.

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  1. Add New Service Desk Workflow exampleImage Added
  2. Enter a Workflow Number (Workflow Number Field exampleImage Added )

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  1. A couple of things to remember about Workflow numbers:

    1. They are used to order the Workflow items.

    2. Leave a range of numbers available between Workflow numbers (WF#) in case items need to be added later. We recommend intervals of 100.

    3. Multiple Workflow items can have the same number. This is done when those tasks can be performed concurrently.

  2. Enter the Workgroup.

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  1. (Workgroup Field exampleImage Added )

  2. If you are giving this to a specific person, enter/select the Worker. (Work Field exampleImage Added )

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  1. If this Workflow item is ready to be worked, enter a Start Date.

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  1. (Image Added )

  2. Optionally, Users may also choose a Scheduled Date, and/or enter an Estimated Time to complete the Workflow. The estimated time field allows the User to specify the number of hours the task should take to complete.

  3. Click the

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  1. Save NewImage Added button.

Adding a Workflow from a Service Desk Classification

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When using this button to add workflow, the SDCs that are available match the Service Desk Type, as well as, the Service Desk Action and must have defined SDC Workflow:

  1. Click on the

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  1. WorkflowImage Added tab.

  2. Click on the

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  1. Add from Service Desk ClassificationImage Added  button.

  2. From the Choose a Service Desk Classification form, select the SDC to apply.

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  1. Example of the Choose a Service Desk Classification formImage Added
  2. Click the 

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  1. Add WorkflowImage Added button.

  2. The New SDC will be applied to the Service Desk Item.

Scheduling Workflow

Technicians may be auto-assigned workflow in Service Desk and Service Desk Actions. The application assigns a worker and a scheduled date to each workflow, the Order and Actions are processed separately from each other.

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To edit an individual Action, simply selected the Action, and click the Edit SelectedImage Removed image-20240606-183705.pngImage Added button.

Deleting a Workflow Action

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To delete an individual Action, simply selected the Action, and click the Delete SelectedImage Removed image-20240606-183714.pngImage Added  button. 

Entering Labor

The Enter LaborImage Removed image-20240606-183726.pngImage Added button allows the user to enter Labor on a specific Workflow item. 

Clicking it will open the 'Add New Service Desk Labor' data entry form.Add New Service Desk Labor form exampleImage Removed

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From here the Worker can enter the Labor Type, Date Worked, Hours Worked, Mark as Billable, Record a Flat Rate, and even add a description of the work in question. Any given Action can have multiple Labor records for different Workers associated with it. One the Workflow tab a record of total time worked by these Workers will display under 'Labor Hours'. To access the details double-click the action and the 'Manage Service Desk Workflow' form will open.

To control the default state of the Service Desk Labor Billable checkbox set the SD_LABOR_BILLABLE parameter.  By default, this configuration value is set to false, meaning the Service Desk Labor Billable checkbox is unchecked and must be checked manually by the User if billable time is desired.

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On the Time Entry data entry form, all a User needs to do is check the "Workflow Complete" checkbox to automatically mark the workflow as completed when this entry is saved. All of the tasks/notifications associated with completed Workflow will trigger as a result.Manage Time Entry form exampleImage Removed

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Completing a Workflow Action

The Complete SelectedImage Removed image-20240606-183806.pngImage Added  button sets the Workflow Status to Complete. This marks the particular item and sends out appropriate Notifications , if they are set. As each Workflow is completed the next Workflow in the sequence is automatically started, triggering the Workflow Start Date event.

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Your ability to complete a workflow may be restricted depending on your organization's requirements defined in the configuration guide. If for example permission is denied to everyone except for the Assigned Worker, Manager, CSR, or SysAdmin and you are none of these you will not be able to complete the workflow. This also holds true if there is not assigned worker. In this case only the Manager, CSR or SysAdmin would be able to complete the workflow. See SD_WORKFLOW_PERMISSIONS configuration option for more details.

Requesting an Update

The Request UpdateImage Removed image-20240606-183816.pngImage Added  button creates a status request email for a given workflow task.

To use it just click the 'Request Update' button. This will open the 'New Message form'.New Message form exampleImage Removed .

A User can keep the default email text or add additional content here. Clicking the SendImage Removed image-20240606-183836.pngImage Added  button will generate the email and send it to the email inbox of the recipient.

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If there are multiple 'Action/Type' that are duplicated Workflow it can be unwieldy to manage these tasks for similar requests. To address this PCR-360 has the option to Consolidate these duplicated Workflows. Only Workflow items with a Pending 'WF status' can be Consolidated.

Clicking the ConsolidateImage Removed image-20240606-183906.pngImage Added  button will Consolidate all of the current workflow. The Workflow will have all original 'Action/Types' removed, combined with matching entries, and added back to the Workflow tab on the Service Order. For this to occur, the Workflow Number, Workgroup, and Worker fields will all have to match. It is important to note once done, this cannot be undone. Once completed you'll note that all of the Workflow entries(WF#) have '000' for their 'Action #', meaning they are assigned to the Service Order as a whole and not to any individual Action. Any 'Notes' unique to the separate records will be combined with the new consolidated Workflow and comma-separated. Any Estimated Time will be totaled together.

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Assigned Workflow lists all Service Desk items that have a pending workflow with a Start Date assigned to the current user as the Worker. See related: Assigned Workflow

Widgets

The 'By Type and Assigned Worker' Widget can assist in making a visual comparison of group members to ensure no one workgroup gets over loaded and distribute the workload.

The 'SLA Metrics For Worker' Widget can assist in showing the Workflow completed by a Workgroup/Worker. More information on Widgets can be located on the Widgets page.

Manage Add a Custom Widget form exampleImage Removed

Workflow Notifications

By establishing a system of Escalations and Notifications, Administrators can ensure, for instance, that all parties to a Workflow receive Notifications when that Workflow is approaching its due date. Or, if a Service Desk item has been left untouched for an extended period of time, supervisors can be notified so action can be taken to address it.

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Additionally, Workflow can can be accessed through the API for an Administrator to utilize. See the related API Workflow for use cases.

Configuration options for Workflow can be found in the Configuration Guide

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Workflow: A report on all Service Desk Workflow. This report also includes several unique columns that are calculated by PCR-360 based on the Users use of the Workflow tools which are as follows:

  • Completed On Time: A yes or no value indicating whether the workflow was completed by the due date.

  • Reported Worked Time: The amount of time work was done on the workflow based on the work start and complete dates

  • Actual Worked Time: The amount of time work was done on the workflow based on when the workflow was created and completed.

  • Time On Hold: The amount of time the workflow was on hold.

From here a User can also create custom reports using the ReportImage Removed image-20240606-183935.pngImage Added  button. 

Users are able to directly open the exact Service DeskImage Removed image-20240606-183950.pngImage Added ActionImage Removedimage-20240606-183954.pngImage Added , or WorkflowImage Removed image-20240606-184003.pngImage Added record the User desires once the item is selected in the grid.

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Workflow is an important part of all of the following tasks. Click a Guide for more information about how to use Workflow for the given task.

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