This document outlines 5 ways to identify and improve processes in a business: 1. Identify critical processes and rate their importance. 2. Map out all steps and responsibilities for processes you want to improve using flowcharts or swimlane diagrams. 3. Investigate how to streamline, bypass, or automate processes by removing unnecessary steps or implementing technology. 4. Future-proof processes by considering potential political, economic, social, technological, legal, and environmental changes. 5. Leverage technology like business management systems to simplify implementing and managing new processes.

1. WAYS TO
IMPROVE
YOUR
PROCESSES

2. 5 ways to identify and
improve the processes
in your business

3. 1
Identify all the processes in your business and
then rate them in terms of importance.
Identify critical processes

4. 1 Identify critical processes
Wouldimproving thisprocess
increaserevenueordecrease
costs?
Doesthe processhavean
impacton yourcustomers?
Wouldit improvestaffmoral
andpotentiallyreduce
turnover?
If I don’timprovethisprocess,
what happens?
Key questionsto ask:
>
>
>
>

5. 2
Map out all the steps in the process
and who is responsible.
Map out the processes
you want to improve

6. 2 Map out the processes
you want to improve
Flowcharts
are a
great
way to
map
out
simple
processes.

7. 2
Get in the swimlane
For morecomplexprocessesaSwimLaneDiagramallowsyou
to mapout numerousstepsandtouchpointsina process.
Map out the processes
you want to improve

8. Payroll Process
Human Resources Manager Payroll SystemEmployee Payroll
Payroll Period
Ends
Add new employee
pay information
Employee
info correct?
Re-enter
information
Swim Lane Process Diagram
Employee
enters work
hours
Change or
correct details
Review and
approve
Approve
overtime
Review information
All info
complete?
Contact employee
to provide more
detail
Review pay
info again
Overtime
approved ?
Finalise payroll
batch for processing
Send data
Complete
Payroll
Confirm
superannuation
details correct
Yes
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
Yes

9. Be inclusive
Include all stakeholders
affected by these processes
to ensure you don’t overlook
anything and garner buy-in
from everyone.

10. 3 Investigate how the
process can be improved
Streamline Automate Bypass

11. 3 Investigate how the
process can be improved
Streamline
Look for steps within the Flowchart or Swim
Lane Diagram that can be removed from the
process without impacting the outcome.

12. 3 Investigate how the
process can be improved
Bypass
There are some processes that are only there
because ‘it’s always been done that way’.
If you can bypass a process entirely and still
get the same result, do you really need that
process?

13. 3 Investigate how the
process can be improved
Automate
Some critical processes can’t be streamlined or
bypassed. But if it’s hampering your growth it
needs to be automated.
Most automation comes from moving
awayfrom disparate systems and
software, and implementing an
integrated business management system.
?Automation

14. 4 Future proof
your processes
Focus on the future
To ensure your processes
continue to be of value
they need to be flexible
and adapt to future
changes.

15. 4 Future proof your
processes
Plan with P.E.S.T.L.E
Generate a short, medium and long term
evaluation of your processes using the P.E.S.T.L.E
methodology.

16. 4 Future proof your
processes
P for Political
E for Economic
S for Social
T for Technological
L for Legal
E for Environmental

17. 5
Work smarter, not harder
After deciding on what, now focus on how.
Utilise technology to simplify the implementation
and on-going management of your new processes.
Take advantage of
technology

18. 5
Befriend business systems
Technology, like business management systems,
can be customised for your businesses requirements
enabling the automation of manual processes.
Take advantage
of technology

19. At the touch of a button
we have access to all the
information we need in
real time.
Brett Dallas
DirectImports
We must have saved
20 hours a week
alone handling our
distribution processes.
Ben Knispel
Nippy’s

20. 1 Identify critical processes
Identify allthe processes in your business andthenrate themin terms of
importance.
2 Map out the processesyou want to improve
Mapout allthe steps in the process andwhois responsible.
3 Investigate how the processcan be improved
Investigatinghowtostreamlineprocesses, bypass any blockers, andautomate
critical tasks.
4 Future proofyour processes
Ensure your processes are flexible andadaptable for the futureby viewing
them from a short, mediumandlongtermview.
5 Take advantageof technology
Utilise technology tosimplify the implementationandmanagement of
newprocesses.
5 ways to improve your processes

21. Think Bigger
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