In
ContactsLaw, a task is an instance of an
activity and can be thought of as a work item. A task encapsulates:
- The activity that has been delegated/started/recently-completed
- The record (file, contact, document, transaction, etc) that the task relates to
- The progress of the activity (i.e. the step of the workflow that must be completed)
- The member/group responsible for carrying out the work
- Priority, start/due dates and managerial options
- A series of notes or remarks from the member who completed the previous step
While a task is attached to an item in the system, only the members with direct involvement in the activity (or otherwise sufficient permissions) will be allowed to perform work on the item. Upon completing the work (usually by saving changes to a screen or capture form within the application), the task is updated and advanced to the next step. When all steps are finished, the task moves into the completed state (where it will either be removed from the system or persisted in the 'completed tasks' view on the portal and/or file).
During the lifespan of a task, it is possible to delegate the work to another member or group, optionally preventing further delegation from occuring; this empowers the member with the necessary permissions to complete the work. If the task arrives in error or cannot be completed, the member can repudiate the task, reverting to the previous step and returning it to the originating member. Tasks that are completed or uncommenced can be deleted if required.
As a task moves through the steps of the workflow, it may be imbued with commands/properties that will influence the behaviour of the subsequent steps. These are called directives.
Tasks can be created in the following ways in ContactsLaw:
See also:
Task list