| The processes identified
in the system or organization model can be regarded as Level 0
implying there are further levels in a hierarchy as shown above. Here
we also show the connectivity between levels using both a top down
approach and a bottom up approach.
It is important to remember that the purpose of any
process is to achieve an objective and therefore whether the objective
is strategic such as a vision or mission, or is related to the
completion of task such as crossing the road, there is still a process
to achieve it. However, if the decomposition reaches a level where
to go any further in the hierarchy you would be in danger of noting
arm movements, you have gone a level too far.
To identify the processes, sub-process or activities
you need to know what objectives need to be achieved or what outputs
are required. Objectives are simply outputs expressed differently .For
example, if the output is growth in the number of enquires the process
objective is to grow the number of enquiries. You can then ask a
number of questions to determine the processes, sub-process or
activities:
- Ask what processes deliver these outputs or achieve
these objectives
- Ask what activities produce these outputs
- Ask what factors affect our ability to deliver these
outputs or achieve these objectives.
E.g
if innovation is critical there ought be an innovation process.
If you
do it the other way around you would identify a sequence of
activities and then:
- Ask “what is the output or objective of
this activity” and thereby identify a Stage Output
- Ask “where does this output go to” and thereby
identify the next Stage in the process
- Follow the trail until you reach the end of the
chain of stages with a number of outputs
- Collect the answers from group to group,
department to department and then
- Ask “what do these groups of outputs have in
common” and thereby identify a series of Activity Groups and then
- Ask “what contribution do these activity groups
make to the business” and thereby identify the Business Processes?
E.g. advertising creates a demand therefore it is part of the Demand
Creation Process
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