1.  Create the Process List - Business processes are prevalent everywhere, but are they documented? In this section, the focus is on developing a process list and employing decision-making and prioritizing/weighting criteria tools to facilitate what is important to the business. You will discover how these practices help to gain support and buy-in from key stakeholders.

Team Based Case Study Practice Sessions:

• Develop a process list using a decision-making tool

• Apply the scaling criteria learned in this section

• Determine which business process to improve

 

2.  Elaborate the Scope - Critical for any project is defining the boundaries. In this section you will learn how to identify and document the boundaries of the business process to be improved. Discussion and consideration of managing scope is also reviewed regarding the business process. Finally, you will determine what scope approvals are required before moving into detailed business analysis.

Team Based Case Study Practice Sessions:

• Define the scope of the business process

• Use a template to establish the scope of the project

 

3.  Develop the Process Model - Process modeling ensures understanding of the business processes undergoing analysis. In this section you will learn the basics of process models, accepted modeling standards, and the levels used to draw business processes. Employing both the process model and text as practiced in this section helps ensure understanding of the current state.

Team Based Case Study Practice Sessions:

• Draw the process model

• Apply standard notation in your process model

• Capture the current state of the business process

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4.  Create Time and Costs Estimates - Through analysis of the current state process time and costs helps quantify a return on investment for the improvement. How to determine time and cost estimates for the current state is provided in this section, as well as the analyzing potential business process improvement costs.

Team Based Case Study Practice Sessions: 

• Estimate the time for the case study activities and compare with other teams' estimate

• Determine activities requiring process and/or cycle time improvement for the future state.

 

5. Obtain Process Model Validation - Confirming your analysis of the current state is critical before identifying future state improvements. This section focuses on the stakeholder validation sequence. With validation completed, improvement targets are identified.

Practice Session:

• Large group discussion to pinpoint improvement targets for the case study.

 

6.Identify Improvement Options - The focus is now shifted to the future state. This section provides techniques for proposing changes by the use of a visual model. A six step process is followed to ensure effective analysis . Upon completion of change analysis, you will draw the process model for the proposed future state.

Team Based Case Study Practice Sessions:

• Examine all six improvement methods in sequence

• Create the future state process model based on your team's improvement recommendations

 

7. Establish Controls and Metrics - Adding controls to the business process ensures accuracy, reliability and may reduce errors. In this section you will identify controls necessary for the future state. Additionally, establishing metrics helps ensure effectiveness, efficiency and adaptability of the business process. This section will help you identify the most appropriate metrics judge the success of the improved business process.

Team Based Case Study Practice Sessions:

• Identify the future state process model using control points

• Clarify and improve the success measurements from the scope definition document

• Write SMART objectives and identify specific metrics to be used for process measurement.

 

8.Test the Process - Testing the business process helps to identify bottlenecks, as well as work out defect. Use testing also helps ensure the process meets stated goals and provides for smooth implementation of the business process. This section will help you identify what needs to be included in testing the proposed future state.

Practice Session:

• Large group discussion to identify test recommendations to include test plan creation, scenario development, test plan implementation, feedback and retesting.

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9.Assess Change Readiness- Evaluating change readiness seeks to create strategies for minimizing the change impacts on the workplace, the workers, as well as minimizing distractions. This section examines change impacts, resistors to change and how to create an implementation plan for the changes

Team Based Case Study Practice Sessions:

• Develop an impact analysis

• Determine pathway for implementing the changes

 

10.Perform Continuous Improvement - Continuous improvement is an ongoing effort and this section focuses monitoring the business process and making necessary adjustments to continuously improve. Techniques will be employed for different root cause analysis, developing a continuous improvement plan, and monitoring data to analyze performance problems.

Team Based Case Study Practice Session:

• Develop a process list using a decision

• Examine the data and document conclusions

• Identify opportunities for continued improvement