Do You Need a Map to Implement a Process?
| by Dan Davison | ||||
Recently we have been interviewing our customers to find out how they are using the policy and procedure manuals. Many are using them as templates for policies and procedures as intended, but some are using them to infer the processes from which the policies and procedures were derived.
Many customers say they are creating process maps as aids to implement and update their processes, and to capture and communicate the information they have found. Some customers say they are looking to Bizmanualz for the best practices of many organizations.
Like any process map, rendered maps shown above help communicate information to others and are tailored for communication. Rendered maps represent the information in familiar, more realistic graphics and can represent elements of a process in physical proximity or time.
Clearly, our customers are telling us that there is more we can do for them. We could provide more process maps that can be customized for specific purposes. We believe that providing a set of coherent process maps would help you get your job done better, faster and cheaper. If your job is to implement and improve processes, and support processes with training, procedures and other communications, then clearly process maps can help you.
We’re talking to more customers right now to solidify our understanding. So if you had a conversation with us recently, and agreed to a follow-up call, you will probably hear from us again soon. If you haven’t already heard from us, but would like to weigh in on this issue, please get in touch. Just comment at the end of this post, or contact us online and let us know what you’re thinking.
Defining Process Maps
The trouble is that “process map” means different things to different people. You will find everything from strange spaghetti diagrams of everything going on in an organization, to abstract block diagrams that tell you little about what’s actually going on in a company.
As a step in creating our library of policies and procedures, we have created many process maps. We have had to, to make sure that everything works together. In fact, we have standardized on seven types of maps, each type with a specific purpose, its pros and cons, and its role during implementation.
As a step toward providing you with useful, best-practice process maps, we plan to share our mapping methodology with you, our readers, friends, and customers. We have written a white paper defining seven types of process maps and will publish it in installments (read part I). The paper provides an example of each type of map, its best uses, and the positives and negatives of each one.
So stay tuned over the next several weeks as we fine-tune an approach to process mapping that will work for the majority of our customers, and share what we learn with you here.
Categories:
Business Improvement Services • Strategy
Tags:
Policies and Procedures • process map • process mapping • processes • training
Bizmanualz has been at the forefront of deploying business best practices since 1995 delivering Policies, Procedures and Forms; quality systems implementation; and strategic business process improvement to help business owners achieve the growth and expansion they envision.
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Originally published in 2009 by Bizmanualz, Inc. under the title Do You Need a Map to Implement a Process?. All rights reserved. Reproduction permitted with attribution only. www.bizmanualz.com
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