WORKFLOW MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR AN AUTOMATED CREDIT APPLICATION SYSTEM

A workflow management system for an automated credit application processing system. The workflow management system automatically coordinates the workflow among various workgroups and entities involved in the credit application process. The steps and rule tests that define an organization's workflow are customized according to the workflow requirements and process steps for each organization. The workflow manager allows application steps to be processed simultaneously by various entities involved in the loan application process. Workgroups are defined for each pre-configured workflow definition. Each workgroup is associated with a particular set of functions. A workgroup queue is provided for each workgroup. Workgroup queues contain active or pending steps associated with the workgroup. In operation, users can obtain status information by viewing data from the various workgroup queues. A relational database management system is used to link a plurality of tests with each workflow process step that is defined for particular workflow. The tests are linked to rule elements which are linked to database elements that are linked to functions that alter the database elements. Accordingly, when a function is executed, the workflow management system automatically determines which particular workflow process steps are potentially affected by the executed function. Then, the workflow management system evaluates those steps to determine their status and to further determine the process steps to be activated next.