Improving Business Processes

Table of contents

1. Cover
2. Pocket Mentor Series
3. Copyright
4. Mentor’s Message: Why Improve Your Business Processes?
5. Improving Business Processes: The Basics
   1. What Are Business Processes?
      1. Inputs, activities, and outputs
      2. People, technology, and information
   2. What Is Business Process Improvement?
      1. A definition
      2. Formal BPI methodologies and standards
      3. Triggers for a BPI effort
      4. Benefits of BPI
      5. The six phases of BPI
   3. Phase 1: Plan a Business Process Improvement
      1. Detect signs of trouble
      2. Select a process to improve
      3. Define the BPI’s scope, goals, and schedule
      4. Assemble your BPI team
      5. Get everyone on board
   4. Phase 2: Analyze the Existing Business Process
      1. Map the process
      2. Examine the map for problems
      3. Interview stakeholders
      4. Benchmark
   5. Phase 3: Redesign Your Business Process
      1. Envision a better process
      2. Test your team’s ideas
      3. Consider a new design’s implications
      4. Document your new design
      5. Refine the new design
   6. Phase 4: Acquire Needed Resources
      1. Understand resource types
      2. Document your new design
   7. Phase 5: Implement Your Redesigned Business Process
      1. Understanding implementation obstacles
      2. Rolling out the new business process
   8. Phase 6: Continually Improve Your Business Process
      1. Measure the business process’s performance
      2. Take needed action to improve performance
      3. Revise performance metrics and targets as needed
6. Tips and Tools
   1. Tools for Improving Your Business Processes
   2. Test Yourself
      1. Answers to test questions
   3. To Learn More
   4. Sources for Improving Business Processes
7. How to Order