Patent ID: 8368931

Claim:
An image forming apparatus for defining each of a plurality of executable functions as one work item and executing a plurality of workflows by combining work items, the apparatus comprising: a processor coupled to a memory, cooperating to function as: a setting item association unit that designates a setting item to execute a function corresponding to a work item and associates the designated setting item with a plurality of work items; a workflow association unit that designates, in a plurality of workflows registered in advance as executable workflows, a pre-process workflow to be executed first and a post-process workflow to be executed based on an execution result of the pre-process workflow, thereby associating the pre-process workflow with the post-process workflow; a setting change reception unit that receives a setting change for a setting item of a work item that constitutes the pre-process workflow and that reflects contents of the setting change on a setting item of a work item that constitutes the post-process workflow, wherein the setting items of the pre-process workflow and the post-process workflow are associated by the setting item association unit; a data generation unit that generates data including the execution result of the pre-process workflow and the contents of the setting change received by the setting change reception unit; an analysis unit that analyzes, based on the data generated by the data generation unit, whether a setting change has been done for the setting item of the work item that constitutes the post-process workflow; and a workflow execution unit that controls execution of the post-process workflow based on an analysis result of the analysis unit.