URGENT - Agent Reserves a work item (Decision Task)

[Richard Marut]

Namit,
 
What Dale explained is absolutely correct. You have other options that
can be applied.
 
If the user has already reserved it, they can forward the item to
someone else or you can add another decision option for forwarding. You
could have your decision step embedded within a loop that keeps
iterating when forward is selected. To keep it from returning back to
the person who just did the forwarding, you could place the executing
user into the container and use them as an excluded agent in the
decision task definition.
 
Richard V Marut
SAP R/3 Workflow Specialist
The Consulting Highway, Inc
 
-----Original Message-----
From: SAP Workflow [mailto:Owner-SAP-WUG at MITVMA.MIT.EDU] On Behalf Of
Dale Davis
Sent: Thursday, January 23, 2003 8:56 AM
To: SAP-WUG at MITVMA.MIT.EDU
Subject: Re: URGENT - Agent Reserves a work item (Decision Task)
 
Namit:
 
 This is working as designed. Tthe interpretation that I have provided
my
users' over the years is, that this status signifies that the agent has
started working on the activity but either does not have the sufficient
or
information to complete it at the time the workitem is executed and
would
like to get back to it later. If it went to ready status when the work
was
cancelled, another designated agent may pull it for processing resulting
in
lost effort from the first agent.
 
An example is in a variant configuration workflow that I did where the
engineer runs several product configuration simulations using the SAP VC
engine.  In order to do a  valid set of product config simulations, the
engineer needs time, but may have to run to meetings etc.
If simulations are good, the engineer accepts the product structure
rules,
if not he/she rejects it and kicks off a correction process. In such a
case
if cancelled set it back to ready status that may cause someone else who
is
also a selected agent to redo the same work that the engineer has
already
invested in the activity, so setting it to in process status, guarantees
that it stays in their view only unless they choose to make it available
to
others.
 
Hope this helps.
Dale Davis Jones
IBM / SAP Certified
Senior SAP Workflow/Webflow  PP Consultant - SAP Practice
 
IBM Business Consulting Services
Phone: 845-691-7861
           T/L 8-320-8440
  Internet Address: DKDAVIS at US.IBM.COM
 
.......You can never discover new oceans unless you have the courage to
lose sight of the shore..........
 
 
Namit Bhargava/Philadelphia/IBM at IBMUS@MITVMA.MIT.EDU> on 01/23/2003
09:41:30 AM
 
Please respond to "SAP Workflow Users' Group" <SAP-WUG at MITVMA.MIT.EDU>
 
Sent by:    SAP Workflow <Owner-SAP-WUG at MITVMA.MIT.EDU>
 
 
To:    SAP-WUG at MITVMA.MIT.EDU
cc:
Subject:    URGENT - Agent Reserves a work item (Decision Task)
 
 
 
Hello:
 
I have a work flow in which the first step is a Decision Task. So the
agent
(one of many) clicks on the workitem - takes no action and presses
"Cancel
And Keep Work Item in Inbox" - this is done because that individual does
not want to take any action on that specific work item.
 
Now the work item status changes from "Ready" to "In Progress" - should
it
not remain in "Ready" status?
 
Due to this - the work item now is only in the in-box of that
individual.
 
I know that he/she can replace it to make it available to all other
agents.
 
Is this how this decision task is supposed to work - why does it change
the
status to In Progress even when the user has clicked Cancel and has
taken
no action?
 
Any solutions?
Thanks
Namit Bhargava
 IBM Business Consulting Services