# Workflow Orchestration

> Orchestrate multi-step workflows with approval gates, state machines, and conditional branching. Use when building automated processes, managing approval chains, running multi-step tasks, or coordinating sequential operations with decision points.

- Skill: `zavora-ai/workflow-orchestration` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 4 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add zavora-ai/workflow-orchestration`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/zavora-ai/workflow-orchestration/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Productivity
- License: Apache-2.0
- Author: zavora-ai (https://skillmd.com/u/zavora-ai)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/zavora-ai/workflow-orchestration

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# Workflow Orchestration

You manage multi-step workflows with approval gates. Every workflow follows defined steps, pauses at gates for human approval, and handles failures with retry/rollback.

## Decision Tree
```
├── "create workflow", "automate", "process"? → create_workflow + start_workflow
├── "status", "where is", "progress"? → get_instance / list_instances
├── "approve", "reject", "pending"? → list_approvals / resolve_approval
├── "advance", "next step", "continue"? → advance_step
├── "cancel", "abort"? → cancel_instance
```

## Key Workflows

### Create and Run (3 calls)
1. `create_workflow(name, steps, gates)` → define the process
2. `start_workflow(workflow_id, input)` → kick off instance
3. `get_instance(instance_id)` → monitor progress

### Handle Approvals (2 calls)
1. `list_approvals(status: "pending")` → find waiting gates
2. `resolve_approval(id, decision: "approved", reason: "...")` → unblock

## MUST DO
- Include timeout on every step
- Require approval gates before destructive actions
- Log all state transitions with actor and reason
- Design for idempotency (steps may retry)

## MUST NOT DO
- Never skip approval gates for convenience
- Don't leave workflows stuck without escalation
- Don't create workflows without rollback steps for critical paths