What is a potential risk of poor workflow management?

Choosing decreased productivity and increased operational costs as the answer highlights a critical aspect of poor workflow management. When workflows are not properly managed, tasks may become disorganized, leading to inefficiencies. This can cause employees to spend more time than necessary on tasks, duplicate efforts, or miss important deadlines, directly impacting productivity.

Additionally, operational costs can rise due to wasted resources—both human and financial. For instance, if processes are inefficient, it may require hiring additional staff to compensate for lost productivity, or increased overtime pay to meet deadlines. These factors contribute to higher costs for the organization, making effective workflow management essential for maintaining a healthy bottom line.

In contrast, the other choices illustrate positive outcomes that are generally not associated with poor workflow management. For instance, increased team cohesion and enhanced employee morale are products of effective communication and streamlined processes, while improved customer satisfaction typically results from efficient service delivery and responsiveness—both of which suffer under poor workflow conditions.