A knowledge article holds a reusable answer for a defined audience. Draft content needs review before publication. Publication makes content available under the knowledge base's access criteria; retirement removes outdated guidance from ordinary use. A validity date helps prevent old procedures from being treated as current.
Check the article body as well as its state. Publishing a blank answer doesn't help the employee, even if the record passes a workflow transition. User criteria can govern who reads or contributes to a knowledge base. A link to an article doesn't grant permission to read it. When an incident exposes an incomplete procedure, improve the article and follow its review process instead of copying a private work note directly into public guidance.