A method of graphically depicting
the relationships, steps and interconnected processes involved
across an organization or task. While procedure manuals,
instruction manuals and flow charts provide documentation, a process
map provides a visual picture of a system from start to finish.
Process maps are used to graphically display procedural tasks
(such as admitting and registering a student for a class) or the
activities involved in producing a product or object (such as
baking a cake or building a house). They identify visually
the steps in a task or activity. Process maps can be created
to improve activities or tasks by identifying redundancies, cost
overages of the process or in production of an item, time exhausted,
nonvalue-adding activities, bottlenecks and points of quality
inspection or evaluation. Process maps are large enough to be
read from a distance so that all can see in one diagram how steps
or people in a process are related to one another. Process
maps can be horizontal or vertical depending on application or
need.
As a learning activity, students participating in a Process Mapping
event learn to analyze and understand a sequence of events and
the relationships of elements or people needed to complete a task
or project.
Approximately 6-8 feet of butcher paper or a large whiteboard
or other similar space, large sticky notes, marker pens.
To create an accurate document, process mapping should include
the individuals and/or departments who actually perform the activities.
Using standard flow charting symbols begin listing the individuals,
departments or events from left to right on the sheet as they
become involved in the process of the activity. List activities
under each department or individual responsible, and have others
identify where they are located along the chart. Using
sticky notes, add other individual activities not previously included.
These can be moved around until an accurate picture is
developed. Use arrows to to show the direction of the flow
of work. Once all agree that the map is accurate, it should
be produced in a form so that it can be retained and edited.
A common understanding of what is being mapped needs to be discussed
before starting. Consistent use of either individuals,
departments or events should also be determined before starting.
Process maps can also be created from multiple levels – a zoom-in
and zoom-out method. Used primarily in more complex maps,
a zoom-in map may depict a cake-making activity at a bakery.
A zoom-out map may depict all the activities in the entire bakery.
Pferd, J.(1996, Jul/Aug). ‘To be' or not to be. Health Systems
Review , 4, 46-48.
Wisner, P., Roth, H. (1998, Nov). Metalworks Company. Issues
in Accounting Education, 13, 1043-1058.
The following websites have excellent simple and complex Process
Map samples as well as more information about creating them and
their use.
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