Forms and Workflow: Putting the Right Work

in the Right PlaceMike Fitzmaurice

VP – Product TechnologyNintex

@mikefitzmikefitz@nintex.com

About me

• Mike Fitzmaurice

• Vice President of Product Technology, Nintex

• 11 years at Microsoft

• SharePoint’s original technical evangelist

It’s not always about forms

The Form is the User Interface

• Not the workflow

• Not the data

If (x and y) then do this do thatEnd if

If (user is Bob) then do this and that and the other thing undo thatEnd if

If (x and y) then do this do thatEnd if

If (x and y) then do this do thatEnd if

If (user is Bob) then do this and that and the other thing undo thatEnd if

If (x and y) then do this do thatEnd if

Form-Only App Problems

• Hidden logic

• Disconnected logic

• Security

• Complexity without code

User Interface

Process Logic Data Access

Begin Step 1

Step 2Step 3

End

Think About the Whole App

Make the Workflow Do More of the Work

• Documented

• Auditable

One Form Per Step

• Submit

• Start

• Task

Task Forms

• Workflow can route new data

• New data can be written to original form

• All info can be sent to other places

It’s Not All About Spreadsheets, Either

• Same problem, different file type

• Example: HUGE Excel file with macros

• Workflow: route, track, remind

Questions?

Thank You