What is a Process Hierarchy?

Often referred to as process architecture, a process hierarchy organises your processes around your organisational goal.

A process hierarchy is a little bit like an architectural blueprint for a house. Except rather than beams and rafters, a process hierarchy shows the processes that keep your business upright. This is a great supplement to your organisational chart. The organisational chart shows how departments and roles are related, while the process hierarchy shows how activities are related and how they deliver the outcomes that are needed to attain your organisation’s goals. They map the small stuff, like how a receptionist should take a phone call, or how to send a late payment notice, to the very big and important stuff such as hiring a new head of a department.

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A process hierarchy shows what is really going on in your business. Giving knowledge and understanding on how tasks flow in your company. Pinpointing who is responsible for what and who is making key decisions.

That clear understanding of how employees tackle tasks helps identify a clear basis for how to improve. Both in terms of execution of that aspect of work as well as all of the indirect moving parts around it.

That said they do not only provide the ability to identify and solve problems. With digital documentation, it becomes much easier to pivot and tweak processes. Whether for cost benefits, efficiency or policy/legislation changes.

It’s the first step in shining a light on how you operate, where waste is happening, where fat can be cut, and how you can improve. This adds up to dollars and cents.

Components of a Process Hierarchy

Strategic Processes

At the top of the hierarchy are strategic processes that align with the overall goals and objectives of the organization. These processes are crucial for achieving long-term success and often involve high-level decision-making.

Core Business Processes

In the middle of the hierarchy are core business processes. These processes directly contribute to the creation and delivery of products or services. They are essential for the day-to-day operations of the organization.

Support Processes

At the lower levels are support processes that provide necessary functions to enable core business processes. These may include administrative, IT support, and other functions that facilitate the smooth operation of the organization.

Further Resources:

• Learn how to create your own process hierarchies here.
• Check out our video on why every business should use process hierarchies here.

Related Links:

• 7 reasons process hierarchies go wrong
• Guide to creating a process hierarchy
• Organisational role
• Why creating a process architecture may keep your ship afloat
• 8 key ingredients for rapid process discovery

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