This paper proposes a taxonomy to characterize and classify various approaches for building and executing workflows on Grid computing environments. The taxonomy is based on five elements: workflow design, information retrieval, workflow scheduling, fault tolerance, and data movement. Each element is further detailed with sub-taxonomies, providing a comprehensive understanding of the design and engineering aspects of Grid workflow systems. The paper also surveys several representative Grid workflow systems, including Condor DAGMan, Pegasus in GriPhyN, and Triana, mapping them to the proposed taxonomy to highlight their similarities and differences. The survey aims to identify areas that require further research in the field of Grid workflow management. The taxonomy and survey provide valuable insights into the design and implementation of Grid workflow systems, emphasizing the importance of addressing challenges such as long-lasting execution, large data flow, heterogeneous resources, and dynamic resource availability.This paper proposes a taxonomy to characterize and classify various approaches for building and executing workflows on Grid computing environments. The taxonomy is based on five elements: workflow design, information retrieval, workflow scheduling, fault tolerance, and data movement. Each element is further detailed with sub-taxonomies, providing a comprehensive understanding of the design and engineering aspects of Grid workflow systems. The paper also surveys several representative Grid workflow systems, including Condor DAGMan, Pegasus in GriPhyN, and Triana, mapping them to the proposed taxonomy to highlight their similarities and differences. The survey aims to identify areas that require further research in the field of Grid workflow management. The taxonomy and survey provide valuable insights into the design and implementation of Grid workflow systems, emphasizing the importance of addressing challenges such as long-lasting execution, large data flow, heterogeneous resources, and dynamic resource availability.