A few weeks ago I got a request to add another status to a workflow in a bug tracking system. Last week, I saw a new status in another internal system. Not that I should know all statuses but it was also introduced because we introduced a new role in our organization. Additionally, I was a bit frustrated about an HR system that we use, that has so many statuses that it almost feels like Russian roulette when you need to select a new state.
I prefer to keep things simple, work is done or not done. I realize that this a simplified view of the world and/or work, but it makes life simple (sometimes). I also prefer this approach in a workflow.
“We would like to have an extra state, “in progress at X”, “waiting for review””, etc. I believe adding extra statuses is a symptom of a problem and adding an extra state does not solve the problem. It is symptom fighting!
An extra state results often in a reason not too communicate. There is an extra state so we don’t need to inform other people anymore…. Everyone who attended a project management training, management training, work-related training knows lack of communication is always in the top three of things that go wrong… so adding an extra state, that results in less communication seems not a good solution…
I would like to favor for only three statuses in every workflow system:
- Not started.
- In Progress.
- Done.