Well-documented business process flows
Shawn and I have worked in IT as end users and consultants for over 20 years, and, if there is one thing we have learned, it’s that a good process flow is even more important when you are trying to automate a process. If a company has a business process that is not well documented and all over the place, the chance of automating this process is not good. Let’s take the example of a scenario in which five different people in a company create five different items by following five different processes. If we take the preceding example and plot it in a flow chart, the work process flow will look as shown in Figure 6.1.
Figure 6.1 – New item setup process flow
When it comes to documenting process flows here are some key things to keep in mind:
- Start with a clear objective: Make sure you can clearly define the objective or purpose of the process. This will help you focus on the essential steps...