Blog Archives

Best Practice – part 3

7/28/2011

5. Data available electronically
Once input into the system all required data can be viewed in the system, by query or report, by the people who need to see it.

6. Data fields pre-populated
Where an activity is a consequence of a previous activity common data is pre-populated (ie: it does not have to be re-entered). For example: the data in a sales order is pre-populated for use in the invoice.

0 Comments

Best Practice – part 2

7/28/2011

0 Comments

3. Integrated software
In the past experts recommended one system. Now people prefer “best of breed”. Either way is acceptable as long as the systems are integrated so that data does not have to be re-entered. Ideally the user can see through one system into the other without having to log out and in to something else.

4. Data captured (entered) at source
Simply put, people are not filling in pieces of paper to pass to someone else to input into the system when they could easily have done it themselves eliminating the need for the form

0 Comments

Best Practice – part 1

7/13/2011

1 Comment

1. There is a process owner
A person in the organisation who takes the process view. They own the process no matter whose area it crosses and are tasked with ensuring what is done is in the best interest of the organisation (not one particular person or part).

2. One shared services style function
Shared services is a methodology for structuring and running processes. Its three main principles are:

All processes are considered key to the business and are taken seriously
People performing the process focus on quality and cost efficiency
There is a focus on continuous improvement

This does not mean you have to have a shared services centre. Just that you try to follow the three main principles.

1 Comment

What to consider in assessing the quality of a process

7/3/2011

0 Comments

You should consider:

Is it streamlined
Are there quick turnaround times
How high is the accuracy
Are there minimal queries
Is it right first time
Are people doing what you would expect them to do

This can be done by assessing how the process compares to Best Practice and what we think are the 6 key quality measures.

Be careful with the term “best practice”. In the end it is “what is best for you” not the person down the road. They will have different circumstances, influences and goals to you. But best practice can be used as a guide to the sorts of things you would expect a reasonable person to do if they wanted a quality process.

The next 7 blog entries will provide a list of criteria for Best Practice. They represent what we believe is a generic process best practice. Not all of the criteria are applicable for every process, but for the majority they ring true.

The aim is to create a list which reflects acceptable best practice for the process you are reviewing, so feel free to add or remove criteria from the list to suit your process.

0 Comments

theprocesshub.com

Subscribe to The Process Hub Monthly Newsletter with access to theprocesshub.com

The Process Hub

The Process Hub is a mix of process improvement advice and weekly Blogs on things we find interesting. It has lots of useful information - and its free (but there are ads - its a small sacrifice for access to so much useful information).

BP Consulting Links

Have us improve your processes

Use us for project management

Let us help you with BPM

Have us complete a review

Get coached by us

Attend our seminar

Buy our guide books

View Noel Currie's profile and join him on LinkedIn

Best Practice – part 3

Best Practice – part 2

Best Practice – part 1

What to consider in assessing the quality of a process

theprocesshub.com

The Process Hub

BP Consulting Links

Archives

Categories