What distinguishes a Task from an Action in a CLM workflow?

• A. A Task is a work item assigned to a user; an Action is an automated or semi-automated step in the workflow
• B. A Task is always manual; an Action is always manual
• C. A Task is a document, an Action is a data field
• D. A Task is optional; an Action is mandatory

Answer: (A)

In a CLM workflow, the core distinction is between human-driven work and automated steps. A Task represents a concrete work item assigned to a specific user (or role) that requires a person to open, review, and complete it. An Action, on the other hand, is a step in the workflow that the system performs—either automatically or with minimal human input—such as triggering the next step, routing to the next stage, or applying a rule. This separation matters because it shows where human intervention happens versus where the process can advance automatically. So the statement that a Task is a work item assigned to a user and an Action is an automated or semi-automated step best captures the difference.