Manual Activity

What is a Manual Activity?

A Manual Activity is a task within a business process that requires human intervention rather than being automated by a system. Unlike automated activities, which are executed by software, a manual activity involves a person performing specific actions, such as reviewing documents, entering data, making decisions, or communicating with stakeholders. Manual activities are an integral part of workflows that require human judgment, creativity, or physical actions that cannot be automated.

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How Does a Manual Activity Work?

Manual activities typically follow these steps:

Task Assignment: The business process reaches a stage where a manual task needs to be performed. The task is then assigned to an individual or a team, usually through a task management system like an Inbox.
Task Execution: The assigned person or team carries out the manual activity. This might involve reviewing information, entering data into a system, making a decision, or performing a physical action.
Documentation: As the task is performed, the individual may need to document the actions taken, decisions made, or results obtained. This documentation is often recorded in the system or attached to the task for future reference.
Completion and Update: Once the manual activity is completed, the user marks the task as complete in the workflow system. This triggers the next step in the process, which could be another manual activity, an automated action, or the conclusion of the workflow.
Quality Assurance: In some cases, the output of the manual activity may be reviewed or validated by another person to ensure accuracy and compliance with standards before the process continues.

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Why is a Manual Activity Important?

Human Judgment: Manual activities are essential for tasks that require human judgment, decision-making, or creativity, which cannot be fully automated.
Flexibility: They provide flexibility in business processes, allowing for dynamic responses to complex or unique situations that automated systems might not handle well.
Error Handling: Manual activities allow humans to identify and correct errors that might arise in automated processes, ensuring better quality control.
Collaboration: Manual activities often involve collaboration between team members or departments, facilitating communication and shared decision-making.
Regulatory Compliance: Some tasks, especially in regulated industries, require human oversight to ensure compliance with laws and standards, making manual activities crucial for adherence to these requirements.

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Conclusion

Manual activities are a critical component of business processes that require human input. They ensure that tasks requiring judgment, decision-making, or specialized skills are handled effectively, complementing automated processes and enabling flexibility and accuracy in workflows.

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