2.6 Workflow and GenAI Co-Creation
Robin L. Potter
There is no doubt that genAI is having a significant impact on how we prepare our communications. Prior to large language models (LLMs) the typical workflow consisted of gathering information and resources, planning our documents, choosing software, collaborating, preparing the documents, obtaining feedback and revising accordingly, tracking versions, selecting the technology for distribution, and following up. With genAI in the mix, the process has either become more simplified or more complex, depending on your perspective and the AI tools applied to the tasks. Those with some familiarity and comfort with genAI use will see the applications as welcome assistants in the process of creating documents and completing related tasks as they can provide some ease in generating content and ideas, efficiency in drafting documents, images, charts, and tables, and in summarizing information, among other tasks. However, when considering the need for accuracy, detail, citations, and originality, the use of genAI may not offer as much of an increase in efficiency as one would like. So, understanding your workflow as you create communications on the job will help you to better integrate LLMs into the process. This chapter will define the concept of the workflow, discuss various degrees to which genAI and LLMs in particular can be integrated into workflows, and how to apply your evaluative judgement to maintain your agency through interactions.
What is a Workflow?
Simply put, a workflow consists of the sequence of steps involved in completing a task. Set within the communication context, such a workflow involves the process of preparing an intended communication, be it a message, document, presentation or other form of communication collateral. Whereas the writing process describes the cognitive sequence involved in creating the text or content itself (prewriting, outlining, drafting, revising, editing), the workflow usually encompasses the non-cognitive, more materials aspects. It is the act of drawing on resources at specific moments in the process such that they serve your individual purpose when needed the most. Interestingly, genAI fits within both the cognitive (e.g., ideation, content creation, coding) and the material (e.g., image and table generation, formatting, sequencing, genre conventions) processes involved in the creation of a communication.
Whereas for many decades workflow in business contexts referred to automated processes involving set procedures for the creation, review, and distribution of documents (Lockridge & Van Ittersun, 2020), the integration of genAI within business contexts is occurring on an individual employee basis with only 13% percent of companies surveyed by McKinsey in early 2024 making an effort to implement genAI in a concerted manner (Relyea et al., 2024), indicating that employees are moving ahead with its adoption. In some cases, as we see in academic institutions, emp