Process and activities, definitions
Definition of the process.
The ISO 9000:2000 thus defines the process “Together of correlated or interactive activities which transforms elements of input into elements of exit”.
This definition is rather incomplete.
Let us take again the general layout suggested by the Petit Robert: “A process is a whole of phenomena conceived like assets and organized in time”.
This definition goes back to 1865 and I do not think that its authors considered already the needs for the BPM.
However, it specifies three essential concepts: together of active phenomena, organized and expressing itself in a temporal dimension.
He/she misses only the concepts of finality and measurement to become exploitable at the 21st century.
Let us supplement it:
- Process
- Together of activities organized in time producing a precise and measurable result.
Let us specify that the inputs and the exits are clearly identifiable (source:
New dashboards of the managers)
An Example of process
The process offers a directed trade of the firm and either vertical and directed transverse vision function. The transverse vision is neither more nor less that of the customer. It is by adopting this type of representation, dynamics and either statics, which it will be possible to perceive and thus to improve the directed cycles customer.
Definition of an activity:
- Activity
- Identifiable spots of the process at the entries and clearly definite exits and whose added value is measurable.
Activity definition or critical Process:
- Critical process
- A process (or activity) is known as critical when it is directly related to with the improvement considered. Its unfolding and its intrinsic performance condition the realization of the finalities of the project of improvement considered.
Note: there do not exist critical processes or activities by definition.
Some resources:
To control the business processeMichel , Nathalie , Patrick
ED Organization
A guide operational, usable in all the firms, whatever their size or their line of business, with:
essential principles of a step of improvement of the processes
all stages and main tools of the implementation
precautions to be taken.
Online libraries (direct access)
www.apics-sjvc.org
www.apics-sjvc.org
Copyright: Alain FERNANDEZ ©1998-2008- All rights reserved