“Process” is a way of seeing work. There are lots of other ways to see work, such as “project,” “to-do list,” “things my boss makes me do,” and even “stuff that fell from the sky this morning.”
Seeing work as a series of processes lets us use powerful tools to help in these areas:
- Standardize work so it gets done the same way every time
- Make work predictable so we can make commitments to our customers
- Measure how well work is being done
- Test ideas about ways to do work better
- Train and retrain workers
- Keep work from falling in the cracks
Seeing work as a series of processes and using process tools helps us understand work in ways that gets us into action to improve. More important, once we’re in continuous action to improve, these tools help us understand what’s working and what’s not working, and what to do next. Seeing work as process creates a never-ending game of improvement.
Here’s what you need to know about organization processes:
- A process is composed of inputs, work, and outputs.
- Processes repeat.
- The goal of a process is standardization and the reduction of variation.
- Processes require handoffs between suppliers, workers, and customers.
- Businesses are primarily process-oriented.
Business in general is struggling with distinctions between project and process. These two different ways of seeing work each come with powerful tool sets to improve outcomes. Most small organizations struggle to understand this distinction and apply these tools.
We help you clarify work by identifying your key business processes and uncovering the inputs, work, and outputs of each. We use simple tools to document your processes so you can quickly get to work improving them.
As you learn to see business as a system composed of many interlinked processes, you’ll be able to apply process tools to gain a deeper understanding of problems and opportunities. More important, we’ll show you how to engage your team in playing the process improvement game with you.
