The workflow due date is calculated by adding the number of default due days from Workflow Type Configuration and the number of non-working days and holidays in the period to the workflow creation date. Note that if the due date is changed on the workflow, there is no validation to check if the sum of the days allotted is not greater than the workflow due date.
The default due date field on the General tab of Workflow Type Configuration is not directly related to the step’s allotted days.
When a step is started, the system creates assignments for each of the assignees. As these are created, the system calculates their due date by adding the days allotted for the step to the step start date. The number of nonworking days or holidays in the range of the start date to the initial calculated due date is added to the due date. See an example of how these dates are calculated in Workflow Steps Example.
If the calculated due date on an assignment is greater than the workflow due date, the step due date is set to the workflow due date. Other than this check, the days allotted is not related to (or validated against) the workflow due date. When the workflow is created, there is no validation that changing the default due date on the workflow may require changes to the due dates on the individual steps.
Consider setting up separate scheduled alerts that notify the workflow creator of the following:
The open workflows that have a due date in x days.
The open workflows that are past due.
The workflows have been made inactive or suspended.
The workflows that have been in the same status for x.