process Mapping and improvement

Many difficulties which seem to be related to poor employee performance are actually due to business processes that are poorly designed, out of date, or too complex.

Our Process Mapping and Improvement service is a systematic approach to making sure your work processes are linked to your business plan, are streamlined, have eliminated duplication of effort, and actually support your employees in successfully delivering your products and services.

Purpose: Assessing the current state of an organization and its work functions are an integral part of any change/improvement effort. Process mapping/flow charting (see example link above) and defining workflow are all synonymous terms for being able to pictorially represent work functions/ processes. This is an important skill we bring to your change efforts. However, it must be done in concert with defining your future state and then developing a plan to get there. Here’s a more complete look at a systems approach that utilizes process mapping and strategic planning at its core.

Step One -Assessment of current processes, determine what’s working well and what’s not. Gather improvement suggestions from those closest to the process. Validate current process(es) actual outputs with Business Plan, Mission, Vision, Values, Goals & Objectives, etc. for consistency. Examine sub-processes outputs from a systems perspective. Determine if you are optimizing the parts at the expense of the whole. Are you organized around your core processes or functions?

Step Three-Create a Business Plan with well defined Strategic Intents, Strategies, and Tactics /Action Plans using a flexible planning framework to get you where you want to go. Design (systemic) core business processes that maximize the whole. Last: Define what organizational structure will best support all of column 2 and 3’s items.

Step Two-Define a clear vision and refresh your mission if necessary. Define high Business goals and objectives consistent with your plan. Define primary business outputs in terms of possible products and services.

 

Key Process Mapping Steps

1. Assess the current state:

• Process Map current processes; determine what’s working well and what’s not; gather improvement suggestions from those closest to these processes.
• Test actual outputs from your current processes against Business Plan, Mission, Vision, Values, Goals & Objectives, etc. for consistency and integrity.
• Examine sub-processes outputs from a systems perspective. Determine if you are optimizing the parts at the expense of the whole. If so, how?
• Determine if you are organized functionally or around your core processes?

2. Jointly (with representation from those closest to the process) design a departmental process for the near future that:

• Is consistent with your Mission, Vision, Values, Business Drivers, and appropriate measures of your current year Business Plan
• Systemically creates the outcomes you want in all other affected departments
• Is a well integrated part of your core business processes
• Creates the key outcomes your customers and staff want and need

3. Design a departmental structure that:

• Best meets the needs of the customer and the staff consistent with the items above
• Best fits within your economic constraint

The capabilities we bring to your process include:

• Ability to understand the detail of the process being improved as well as the entire system that the departmental process resides within
• Ability to process map from both a functional and a system standpoint
• Ability to use high quality process mapping and simulation software
• Ability to ask the right questions and gain the trust and voluntary involvement of the departmental members whose process is being improved
• Systems thinking
• Ability to remain objective about the findings and recommendations
• Understanding of and the ability to design core business processes

If you have not clearly identified or properly mapped your core business processes give us a call and let’s discuss how we can help you.