Process design

Process design is the discipline of mapping of process flows.

It involves the creation of specifications for new and modified business processes within the context of business goals, process performance objectives, workflows, business applications, technology platforms, data resources, financial and operational controls, and integration with other internal and external processes. Both alogical design (what activities are performed) and a physical design (how the activities are performed) are included as deliverables.

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Key Components

1. Business Goals Alignment:
   • The process design is intricately linked to the broader business goals. It ensures that every aspect of the designed process contributes directly to the achievement of these goals.
2. Performance Objectives Definition:
   • Clear specifications are established for the performance objectives of the process. This includes efficiency measures, quality standards, and other key performance indicators vital to the success of the business.
3. Workflow Optimization:
   • The design phase includes a focus on optimizing workflows. This involves streamlining the sequence of activities to eliminate redundancies and enhance overall process efficiency.
4. Technology and Integration Considerations:
   • Process design incorporates considerations for technology platforms and seamless integration with other processes. This ensures that the designed processes align with the technological infrastructure of the organization.
5. Data Resource Utilization:
   • Efficient utilization of data resources is a critical aspect of process design. This involves defining how data is collected, processed, stored, and utilized within the context of the designed processes.
6. Financial and Operational Controls:
   • The design phase includes the establishment of robust financial and operational controls. This ensures that the processes are not only efficient but also adhere to financial and operational standards.
7. Logical and Physical Design Deliverables:
   • Process design encompasses both logical and physical design deliverables. Logical design outlines the activities to be performed, while physical design details how these activities are executed.

Deliverables of Process Design

1. Logical Design:
   • Specifies the activities to be performed within the process. It provides a conceptual framework for understanding the sequence and interdependencies of tasks.
2. Physical Design:
   • Outlines how the activities are executed. It includes the practical aspects of implementation, detailing the tools, technologies, and methodologies used to carry out each activity.

In conclusion, process design is a comprehensive discipline that goes beyond mapping process flows. It integrates business goals, performance objectives, workflows, technology considerations, and controls to create a robust framework for efficient and effective business processes. Both the logical and physical design deliverables ensure a holistic approach to designing processes that contribute to the overall success of the organization.

Further resources:

• Read our guide to simple process mapping
• Business Process Management Common Body of Knowledge (BPM CBOK, 2009), The Association of Business Process Management Professionals

Related Links:

• DMADV
• Process Drawing Tool
• Compliance
• Process Management Lifecycle

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Explore more about different process improvement terms in our BPM Glossary.