Start with the work
Write down the event that starts the process, the information it needs, and the person responsible for the result. Follow one real example from beginning to end. Pay attention to the moments where someone makes a judgment or resolves missing information.
Design for the exception
The ordinary path is only part of the workflow. Decide what should happen when an input is incomplete, an external system is unavailable, or an action needs approval. Give each exception a visible destination and an owner.
Choose the smallest useful slice
Begin with a bounded part of the process that has clear inputs and an observable result. Validate its behavior before expanding the automation into adjacent work.
Make it observable
Log key events, surface status in a place people can see, and include a straightforward way to retry or pause the process when something fails.
Protect against unintended actions
Keep high-impact steps behind explicit approval, validate inputs against known rules, and use idempotency for operations that could run twice.