If you encounter a System Unavailable Exception with a currently worked item, what is the recommended action?

When encountering a System Unavailable Exception, the recommended action is to lock the work item for future processing. Locking the work item ensures that it is not lost or processed incorrectly while the underlying issue, which caused the exception, is being addressed. This approach maintains data integrity and provides an opportunity to revisit the item later once the system is operational again, allowing for proper handling of the situation.

Marking it as an exception does not provide a clear path for recovery and could lead to unnecessary confusion or delay in resolution. Terminating the work item may result in losing important information related to the task at hand that could potentially be processed later. Ignoring the exception and proceeding to the next item would be detrimental, as it bypasses a work item that requires attention and may create a backlog of unresolved issues. Thus, locking it for future processing is the most prudent choice in ensuring that work items are managed appropriately, especially under exceptional circumstances.