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Process Defined
Process is "an organized group of related activities that together
create a result of
value to customers."1
Each word in this definition is important:
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A process is a group
of activities, not just one. Value is created not by single activities,
but by the entire process in which all these tasks merge in a systematic
way for a clear purpose.
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Activities are related
and organized. They present a stream of relevant, interconnected
activities that must be performed in sequence – the right things in the
right way – to produce the desired outcome.
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All the activities in the process work
together toward a common goal. "People performing different steps
of a process must all be aligned around a single purpose, instead of
focusing on their individual tasks in isolation."1
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Process are not ends in themselves. They
have a purpose, they create and deliver results
that customers care about.
"A
business process is the complete and dynamically coordinated set of
collaborative and transactional activities that deliver
value to customers."4
Business Process (BP):
Functional View
"A process is a specific ordering of work
activities across time and place, with a beginning, and end, and clearly
identified inputs and outputs: a structure for action."3
This definition is easy to apply in the context
of the work activities and tasks within a single department or functional
group.2
If the employees of different functional groups lack a common purpose and
direction, each one will inevitably work at cross-purpose with the others.
Enterprise Business Process (EBP):
Systems View
Enterprise business process (EBP) is "the
end-to-end (cross-departmental, and often, cross-company) coordination of
work activities that
create and deliver ultimate value to customers."2
Cross-functional Management
Cross-functional management (CFM)
manages business processes across the traditional boundaries of the
functional areas.
CFM relates to coordinating and
synergizing the activities of
different units for realizing the superordinate cross-functional goals and
policy deployment. It is concerned with
building a better system for achieving such cross-functional goals as
innovation,
quality,
cost, and delivery...
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Integrating E-business
Business processes must not only
incorporate timely company information – for improved
customer relationship management,
supply chain management, and beyond, they must also be kept up-to-date
with fast-changing business needs.
E-business facilitating these processes is the way most business soon
will be transacted. Whether or not you ever plan to sell products or
services over the Web, your most important customer or supplier may one day
insist upon using Web for all transaction...
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