1. A method comprising: extracting, by a server coupled to one or more client machines, relationships between a plurality of states from a configuration data stored on the server to define a workflow management policy comprising rules on how data in a workflow is manipulated, wherein an attribute of the data has a value selected from a group of predetermined values, each of the predetermined values corresponding to a distinct one of the plurality of states and a change on the value of the attribute corresponding to a state transition; and implementing a state machine on the server to manage state transitions initiated by the one or more client machines operating on the data according to the workflow management policy, wherein implementing the state machine on the server to manage state transitions comprises: in response to a request from the one or more client machines to transition from a first state to a second state, verifying, by the server, if a transition from the first state to the second state conforms with the workflow management policy; allowing the request if the transition conforms with the workflow management policy; and denying the request if the transition violates the workflow management policy.