Workflow management systems are systems that organize the workflows, thus process of sequential or parallel working steps of people, businesses and machines. Usually a workflow expert identifies the optimal workflow for a certain process, expresses this workflow in a special programming language that is then executed and enforced by the workflow management system.

Workflow management systems have been criticized for their inflexibility and inability to react to the frequent changes in information-centric processes conducted by knowledge workers.

Many knowledge-centric organizations employ systems like todo list or issue trackers instead to manage their collaborative workflows.