Glossary:
Processes
The classic definition of process is:
Input › Action › Output
A process is the "what" of business. It is the steps and decisions involved in the way work is accomplished. The process mechanism is the means by which companies create and deliver value to a customer by helping to
- improve the way they do business
- produce things more efficiently
- make greater profits
Many times, people blame coworkers when something goes wrong because of the belief that most issues are people-related (lack of skills, training, motivation, capability, job fit). On the contrary, the root cause of most organizational problems is issues with processes, not people. The most effective plan of action to improve the "what" of your business is to examine processes closely and document them in detail.
Who is the process owner?
Eveyone in a business has a stake in one or more processes. Groups of individuals usually share in the activities that make up a process. However, the individual ultimately responsible and accountable for the entire process working properly is known as the process owner. A process owner could be a CFO, COO, the accounts receivable supervisor, the line supervisor, the customer service manager, etc.
Examples of Processes
- Work orders
- Budget allocation
- Part ordering
Sample Processes
All sample processes are in PDF format. You must have Adobe Reader 9.0 or later to open the material. To download the latest version, go to http://www.adobe.com/.