A system and method for automating a business procedure is disclosed. The workflow management system includes an administrator, a process designer, a workflow database, a process engine and a web client. The system may interact with a form generator and a business application program. The system first analyzes the business process and models the process as a combination of detailed activities. The system assigns the properties to each activity according to the business rules. After modeling the business process and after the business process is initiated, the process engine allocates the workitems to the participant. The system can automate a very complicated business process and can be expanded and adapted to ever-changing business environments.