Background
In this project, our main focus was on optimising departmental processes. Our aim was to standardise and document the processes and align them with clear results, with a focus on efficiency and flexibility. The top level of the processes, the “value chains”, were mapped in close cooperation with the process owners. Our deliverables included the documentation of the globally valid value chains, the identification of optimisation potential and the recording of process and quality management. In addition, we developed recommendations and methods to enable the future independent documentation and maintenance of processes in the department.
IMPLEMENTATION
Our project strategy included the targeted preparation of a workshop by sending out an agenda with key questions in advance to get the participants in the mood for the upcoming event. During the workshop, we used a virtual whiteboard as a tool for process mapping, whereby we orientated ourselves on the predefined key questions and used digital post-its to adapt and fine-tune the process illustrations. The recorded processes were then transferred to SAP Signavio, a specialised software for process modelling and optimisation. We then scheduled review meetings with the respective process owners to present the processes in SAP Signavio for official approval.
All agreements and decisions made were documented in a continuously updated and refined conventions manual. In addition, we were able to record the first detailed processes under some of the value chains, which served as pilot processes for both the project and the manual. We created a separate process map to clearly document the respective status of the value chains, which also provided a holistic overview. In order to optimise navigation in SAP Signavio, we developed a higher-level navigation map.
RESULTS
The results of our project efforts include a standardised process landscape that covers all of the department’s value chains as well as a selection of BPMN processes and was mapped in SAP Signavio. We also developed a covention manual that contains the general and company-specific conventions and decisions and serves as a quality check for processes added in the future. Overall, we made the process landscape transparent and enabled the team to independently record processes and map them in accordance with the BPMN guidelines.