importance of business process modelling

#Importance of business process modelling software#

Validate the enhanced process map with team members to confirm accurate process documentation, ensuring that steps are not repeating or missing.

#Importance of business process modelling software#

Process mapping software is generally used to complete this step. Refine the current process map by leveraging basic flowchart symbols.

Use basic flowchart symbols to enhance the process map.

While the level of detail can vary, information around inputs, outputs, metrics, and stakeholders are typically included. During this step, you’ll want to determine where the current process starts and end and the sequence of steps in between. During this stage of the process, you want to document all relevant information around the process. They can also highlight some of the problem areas, such as bottlenecks and redundancies, which may compromise efficiency. These subject matter experts (SMEs) will help you determine the critical information within the entire process, such as stakeholders, sequence of steps, timelines, resources, etc. Gather those who have deep knowledge of the process that you’re looking to optimize. To make the biggest impact, you may want to prioritize a process that’s struggling to achieve outcomes or a process that impacts customer satisfaction. When developing your own business process map, you’ll want to leverage this methodology:

A rectangle with one end rounded is often used as a delay symbol, showing a pause in the process before the flow continues.

The process will continue by following a predefined path depending on the decision.

A diamond is used to indicate a decision point.

An oval is often used to show the beginning or end points of a process flow.

An arrow is used to show both the direction of flow and the connection between steps.

A rectangle is used to represent a specific process and its activities and functions.

Most organizations will need to use only a few of the most common symbols to complete a process map. These symbols can come from the Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) or Unified Modeling Language (UML) (link resides outside IBM), which are graphical methods of notation for process maps. Some of the most common symbols are arrows, circles, diamonds, boxes, ovals and rectangles. Process maps use visual representations, such as basic symbols to describe each element in the process.

A value stream map (VSM) is a lean six sigma technique, which documents the steps required to develop a product or service to an end user.

Rendered process maps represent a current state and/or future state processes to show areas for potential process improvement.

High-level process maps, also known as value-chain or top-down maps, show a macro view of a process, including key process elements such as a supplier, input, process, output, or customer (SIPOC).

Detailed process maps show a drill-downed version of a process, containing details around any sub-processes.

These maps often use swimlane diagrams to illustrate how a process flows across the company, making it easier to spot bottlenecks or redundancies.

Deployment maps, also known as cross-functional flowcharts, display the relationships between different teams.

Basic flowcharts are visual maps, which provides the basic details of a process such as inputs and outputs.There are several different types of process maps.

Most process maps start at a macro level and then provide more detail as necessary. They are particularly helpful in communicating processes among stakeholders and revealing areas of improvement. These visual diagrams are usually a component of a company’s business process management (BPM).Ī process map outlines the individual steps within a process, identifying task owners and detailing expected timelines. There are a variety of process maps, and you may know one by a different name, such as a flowchart, a detailed process map, a document map, a high-level process map, a rendered process map, a swimlane, a value-added chain diagram, a value-stream map, a flow diagram, a process flowchart, a process model or a workflow diagram. Process mapping visually represents a workflow, allowing team to understand a process and its components more clearly. Learn about process mapping, a method which promotes a better understanding of processes and the identification of areas of improvement.