Process Analysis Flashcards
What is a process?
a series of events that take inputs and transform them into outputs
What is a process component (or element)?
an action or input needed to go from point A to point B
What are boundaries?
areas where one process ends and a different one begins
Where do boundaries exist?
between workgroups, departments, divisions, or individual employees
As the impact of a problem propagates through the process, _________ increases, ___________ may follow, and the ___________ becomes less efficient.
waste
delays
process
What are ways to minimize problems at each hand-off in a process?
- control or action plans
- pilot projects
- phased implementations
- employee training
What is a cross-functional team?
team with project activity that covers more than one function
What are strategies for better process utilization in cross-functional areas? (6)
1) structuring the approach to integrate processes
2) working together without any functional limits
3) understanding interdependencies
4) utilizing status reports
5) establishing good communication
6) having collaborative planning tools
Name the mitigation strategy for this improvement challenge:
Multi-layered bureaucratic structure that is created leads to multiple approvals for the activities when large teams are involved. This delays the process flow.
Remove the bureaucracy structure by keeping only critical items that will go for multiple approvals. Trivial items do not pass through several approvals.
Name the mitigation strategy for this improvement challenge:
Missing process ownership in cross-departmental tasks, like interface related ownership
make a detailed process map, including interface, and identify process owners for each of the project tasks
Name the mitigation strategy for this improvement challenge:
As there are several communication channels due to having several members, a coordination gap among departments could exist.
utilize project management tools like RACI and define the project members’ roles for better coordination within the project team
Name the mitigation strategy for this improvement challenge:
Several checking tasks are added, since the same tasks are done in one department and later again in another department.
identify the process flow and establish a mechanism by which redundant tasks are removed, which avoids multiple checking.
Name the mitigation strategy to the improvement challenge:
Customer-oriented project thinking could be missing, as a team might be focusing on their departmental task.
mitigate this by utilizing project planning tools, dedicate needed time in the schedule for the project members’ task, and establish their time utilization in the project status communication.
What is benchmarking?
the process of comparing and measuring organizational operations or internal processes against those of a best-in-class performer
What is the main goal of benchmarking?
to help an organization set targets for its process improvement projects
What are the two main categories of benchmarking?
internal and external
What are the particular types of benchmarking? (5)
- collaborative
- competitive
- best practices
- functional
- internal
What is collaborative benchmarking?
comparing a department’s processes to another department in the organization to learn from one another OR the development of benchmarks between two different departments in two different organizations
What is competitive benchmarking?
comparing your process with direct competitors
What is best practices benchmarking?
identifying procedures that are considered correct or the most effective