Introducing the New “Accept and Reject” Workflow: Enhancing Task Management on the Operance Platform

Nov 7, 2024 | Industry, Inside Operance, Insight, News, Operations and maintenance, Ultimate Guides

Introduction

In response to valuable user feedback and our commitment to continuously improving structured task workflows, Operance is proud to announce the release of a powerful new feature: the “Accept and Reject” workflow. This update is designed to revolutionise task management by fostering better accountability, enhancing communication, and simplifying the approval process for our users.

The Problem and Our Solution

The need for a structured task approval process became evident through user insights. Existing workflows often led to inefficiencies, with limited options for feedback or clarification, resulting in miscommunications, delays, and a lack of transparency. Our aim was to address these challenges head-on by creating a solution that would simplify task management while ensuring clear communication between contributors and coordinators.

Enter the “Accept and Reject” workflow—a structured, user-friendly feature that empowers contributors to submit tasks for approval, receive real-time feedback, and easily monitor task statuses. This new process enhances the visibility and traceability of tasks, streamlining project management from start to finish.

How the “Accept and Reject” Workflow Works

Task Submission and Status Updates
Contributors can now submit tasks directly from the Task Board, locking their entries while awaiting coordinator review. This eliminates the ambiguity that can arise when tasks remain open-ended and unmonitored. Once submitted, the task’s status changes to “In Review,” clearly signalling its position in the workflow and ensuring that contributors are always informed about the current stage of their tasks. This feature reduces unnecessary back-and-forth communication, allowing contributors to focus on their work while awaiting coordinator feedback.

Seamless Commenting for Better Communication
A key component of the new workflow is the integration of a “Comment” icon within each task. This icon opens the Golden Thread Panel, which serves as a dedicated space for comments and updates. This panel fosters direct communication between contributors and coordinators, allowing them to exchange feedback, ask questions, and stay aligned at each task’s property set level. The result is a significant improvement in how teams collaborate, ensuring that any clarifications or updates are captured and addressed promptly within the platform.

Streamlined Approval Process
Coordinators now have tools to facilitate task reviews and make decisions efficiently. The “Accept” option allows coordinators to approve tasks with a single action, unlocking them for any necessary post-approval edits. On the other hand, if a task requires changes, the “Reject” option mandates coordinators to provide feedback, ensuring contributors understand what adjustments are needed. This structured approach eliminates ambiguity and keeps everyone on the same page, promoting a culture of continuous improvement and accountability.

Enhanced Visibility for All Users
One of the standout features of the Accept and Reject workflow is the dedicated views provided for both contributors and coordinators within the Task Board. Users can track task statuses in real time, giving them insight into which tasks are “In Review,” “Accepted,” or “Rejected.” This real-time visibility helps teams gauge project progress at a glance and plan their next steps with more precision. Contributors benefit from knowing their task status without needing to chase updates, and coordinators can maintain oversight of what’s pending or completed in a streamlined manner.

The Outcome and Benefits of the “Accept and Reject” Workflow

The introduction of the “Accept and Reject” workflow brings a range of benefits that significantly improve task management and project efficiency:

1. Reduced Approval Times
By implementing a structured workflow, tasks move through the approval process more quickly. Contributors receive immediate notifications when their tasks are reviewed, reducing wait times and ensuring that projects remain on schedule.

2. Increased Transparency
Clear task statuses and mandatory feedback on rejected tasks enhance transparency within teams. Contributors understand the exact reasons behind any rejections and can take prompt corrective action, which in turn improves the quality of resubmissions.

3. Enhanced Accountability
The workflow fosters greater accountability across the team. Coordinators are responsible for providing structured feedback, while contributors are expected to make adjustments based on this input. This mutual accountability keeps everyone engaged and proactive.

4. Improved In-Platform Communication
With the integrated Golden Thread Panel for commenting, communication is kept within the platform, removing the need for emails or external messaging tools that can be overlooked or forgotten. This direct, centralised form of communication ensures that everyone has access to the same information, facilitating a collaborative approach to task completion.

5. Real-Time Progress Tracking
With dedicated views for contributors and coordinators, teams can effortlessly monitor project progression. Contributors can see when their tasks are in review or completed, while coordinators have a clear overview of pending approvals and completed items, enabling better workload management and priority setting.

6. Early Issue Resolution
By promoting direct feedback within the platform, issues can be addressed early in the process. This reduces the risk of misunderstandings and helps projects maintain momentum without the disruptions that come from unclear task requirements or delayed responses.

How Operance Users Benefit

With the addition of the Accept and Reject workflow, Operance not only enhances the efficiency of task management but also enriches how teams collaborate and communicate. For example, project managers overseeing large-scale projects can now rest assured that their teams are equipped with a structured workflow that supports detailed oversight, faster turnaround times, and improved quality of task submissions.

Contributors will find their workflow simplified, with a clear path for submitting tasks and receiving actionable feedback. Meanwhile, coordinators can streamline their workload by approving or rejecting tasks with ease, knowing that all relevant updates and comments are captured within the system.

This new feature ultimately helps users of the Operance platform to create safer, well-managed projects. By improving communication, collaboration, and accountability, Operance sets a higher standard for structured task workflows that support successful project outcomes.

Conclusion

The new Accept and Reject workflow marks a significant step forward for Operance and its users. By addressing the need for structured task management, clear communication, and accountability, this feature empowers teams to work more effectively and confidently. The benefits of reduced approval times, enhanced transparency, and real-time task visibility contribute to a smoother, more efficient project lifecycle.

At Operance, we remain committed to continuous innovation, driven by user feedback and a dedication to making our platform the most effective tool for managing building information. With the introduction of the Accept and Reject workflow, Operance users can look forward to improved task management and a collaborative approach that supports seamless project delivery.

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