Successful business process optimisation is much like parenting, in that you often find yourself asking, “Why is this here?” Just as parents constantly stumble upon a mysterious toy underfoot or a random drawing on the wall, business leaders frequently encounter elements in a task or process that seem just as out of place.
Asking “Why is this here?” isn't merely about tidying up—it’s about understanding what’s truly necessary. This article explores how adopting a parental perspective on your business processes can help you distinguish what each process actually does versus what it should do, encourage improvements, and clear the path for real growth.
Every corporation, whether it provides toys for children, or travel insurance for the adventurous, relies on repetitive tasks to achieve its strategic objectives. To truly enhance your organisation’s output, you must be willing to discard unnecessary steps and outdated activities.
Before you start cutting out steps and changing the way your processes work, it would be wise to ask, “Why is this here?”
When you start asking why certain steps exist within a process, the answer is often one that parents are familiar with – “It’s not mine!” In business process analysis that normally translates to “I didn’t create the process; I just follow it.”
To streamline your business operations, departments, and daily tasks, consider these questions:
Unless you’re keen on playing "process Jenga," where removing the wrong piece can topple everything, gain a deep understanding of the underlying processes that support your business before making cuts or adjustments.
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Begin your journey towards streamlined operations by downloading our complimentary guide, "Learning BPMN 2.0 Basics". Map out your current processes, and start asking the pivotal question: “Why is this here?”