One of my most significant strengths is undoubtedly facilitating Process Mapping workshops with clients. This skill has proven invaluable, particularly in complex scenarios.
Take, for instance, a recent situation where my client and their customer were struggling with intricate supply chain issues. These challenges were impacting various business requirements. In such cases, the absence of a detailed Process Mapping can stall project progress. This observation is backed by my experience in numerous projects over the last five years. Process Mapping not only fosters a shared understanding among employees and executives but also highlights pain points and outlines a clear path forward. While it’s not overly complex, it certainly requires a skilled facilitator to steer the group toward success.
Key Steps in Effective Process Mapping:
- Initiate with Business Requirements: Start by understanding the key business requirements. Organize a mapping workshop involving key stakeholders and subject matter experts.
- Gather Essential Tools: My toolkit for these workshops includes a large roll of brown paper, Post-it notes, black markers, scotch tape, and MS Visio.
- Pre-workshop Preparation: Define the affected workstreams (such as Procurement, IT, Finance, etc.) before the workshop and display them on the paper.
- Active Participation: Distribute Post-it notes to participants for noting down tasks, decisions, IT systems, reports, forms, documents, and interfaces, if required.
- Collaborative Mapping: Engage all participants in mapping each step, ideally in advance, focusing on addressing the identified pain points.
- Finalizing the Map: After reaching a consensus, secure the Post-it notes with scotch tape, roll up the map, and digitize it using MS Visio.
- Refinement and Finalization: Edit and refine the map in Visio to finalize the ‘To-Be’ process.
The ability to unite a diverse group towards a common future process is a formidable asset for any Project Manager or Solution Architect. It’s a capability that can transform the way businesses operate and innovate.
Terry Vermeylen, President of Terry Vermeylen Enterprises, is a seasoned expert in process mapping and all facets of Project Management. Discover more at worldclasssupplychain.com.