How many steps should each process in a case life cycle ideally contain?

In case management, the structure of a process within a case life cycle is key to ensuring efficiency and clarity. A guideline of limiting each process to about five steps, with a variability of plus or minus two, allows for a balance between comprehensiveness and simplicity. This range helps to keep processes manageable and avoid overwhelming users with too many tasks.

When a process has too few steps, it may not adequately cover all necessary actions, leading to incomplete execution of required tasks. Conversely, if there are too many steps, it can result in confusion and potential bottlenecks, as users might struggle to remember or navigate through an overly complex workflow. Therefore, this specific guideline of 5, with a little flexibility, is ideal for maintaining clarity and enhancing user experience, facilitating smoother transitions and effective case management.

Other ranges provided in the options either fall short in terms of comprehensiveness or extend too far into complexity, making them less suitable for practical implementation within a case life cycle.