Input Process
Output
A powerful method to assist in understanding processes
Used to describe a workflow, an information flow or a flow of activities
Task Cycle
First we plan: we establish our objectives, scope and expected results.
Then we do it.
Then we check that what we did met our objectives.
How we performed influences our next task cycle.
There will be a control point at each step to make sure we have accomplished what we set out to do.
The Control applied at the Output activity is always whether the objectives, scope and expected results were accomplished.
Process Thinking
For analyzing processes I prefer to bring both of the techniques together in a matrix.
The activity of PLANNING requires input, and a process, there will be results (output).
The input will always include the objectives, scope and expected results.
The activity of DOING will likewise have an input (in most cases the output of the planning activity), a process and an output (the expected results from the planning activity).
Resources
The American Productivity & Quality Center (APQC) has the best list of business processes I have found. It is my go-to resource when starting an analysis of any business process.
- Primary framework:The “Process Classification Framework (PCF)” is the core APQC process model, offering a structured taxonomy of business processes across different industries.
- Access to information:
- APQC website: You can access the PCF document, articles explaining its application, and various related research materials directly on the APQC website.
- Membership benefits: Becoming an APQC member grants access to a wider range of resources including benchmark data, case studies, and detailed guides on using the PCF