Process Mapping: Where To Start

Process mapping best practices

When it comes to process mapping a good tool can do a lot, but it will only take you so far. You need to ensure that you’re approaching process mapping following best practices to ensure that the implementation of your solution is smooth and it delivers its full potential. So, what do these best practices look like?

First and foremost, it is important to come prepared. Know your processes. Consider these processes from a number of angles: what is their output? Which are most integral to your operations? Who is responsible for them? Where are the major inefficiencies you’ve noticed? Which processes are you most unsure of/lacking visibility into? This not only informs the act of process mapping it also allows you to best prioritise your time and resources and set clear goals for yourself.

Ask questions about your processes and process culture

It is vital to first identify which processes are business critical and address why – what is their value add? Then consider which processes might be redundant. This will allow for a clearer understanding of how to streamline your processes and where to invest your time, attention, and resources.

Consider more widely how your processes are connected to your structure and infrastructure. Which IT systems underpin or link to each process? Which functions is the process supporting? What is it that you would like the process to achieve once optimised? How does this impact or overlap with your infrastructure or organisational day-to-day? This allows you to take a new, wider perspective on your process mapping that can sometimes get missed in a hyperfocus on individual processes in isolation. This also allows you to identify required inputs and necessary boundaries when creating new processes.

Reflect on your organisation in its current state. What are the most notable manual, repetitive processes? Where is there most risk for human error? What is your attitude to process improvement? How often are your processes reviewed? Process mapping is a powerful tool, but it requires a culture of continued innovation and improvement to support its potential. Questions such as these are a helpful reminder of where efficiencies can be found and how efficiency can be supported culturally within your organisation.

Start off simple

When first approaching mapping a new process, start simple. Identify a clear end goal. Define individual steps that will allow you to obtain necessary inputs and complete the actions required to achieve your mapped goal. Do not try and overcomplicate the initial steps with too much information or too many involved parties. Start with these basic steps and allow them to inform your next actions, ensuring that at every stage you have visibility into your actions and process development and key information is not getting lost in a messy or overcomplicated communication process.

Clearly assign ownership

A fairly simple but exceptionally important point. The best way to ensure processes remain compliant and are regularly reviewed for improvement is to assign clear accountability and ownership to an appropriate member of your organisation. This will empower them to innovate their processes where appropriate, as they feel responsible for their success, whilst also allowing for clear contact points when discussion around a process is necessary.

How Synergi can help

Synergi’s experts have seen and supported a lot of process improvement. We can help guide you through the implementation of process mapping tools, offering expert training, keep you up to date on the latest innovations, technologies, and developments, and use our hands-on experience with process innovation and automation to help you approach your processes, define your solution, and develop a culture of process excellence.

To find out more, get in contact using the form below.