Organizational Process Model

An Organizational Process Model is a process model for organizational processes (where each step follows without delay or gap and ends just before the subsequent step may begin).

• Context:
  • It can range from being a Descriptive Organizational Workflow Model (of an existing org. workflow) to being a Prescriptive Organizational Workflow Model (for defining desired workflows) to being an Explanatory Organizational Workflow Model (for understanding workflow rationale).
  • It can (typically) involve four essential elements:
    • Workflow Inputs - materials required to complete tasks (e.g., documents, data, resources).
    • Workflow Transformations - specific actions or pre-defined steps for task execution.
    • Workflow Conditions - rules that dictate step completion and sequencing.
    • Workflow Outputs - products or results of the transformation process.
  • It can represent different flow patterns:
    • Sequential Workflow Patterns for linear business processes.
    • Parallel Workflow Patterns for concurrent business activities.
    • Conditional Workflow Patterns for business decision flows.
    • Iterative Workflow Patterns for repeated business processes.
  • It can be used to model:
    • Business Process Flows between organizational units.
    • Business Resource Allocation across process steps.
    • Business Decision Points in organizational processes.
    • Business Timelines for process completion.
  • It can be analyzed for:
    • Business Process Efficiency improvement opportunities.
    • Business Process Bottleneck identification.
    • Business Resource Utilization optimization.
    • Business Compliance Requirement verification.
  • It can be implemented through:
    • Business Process Management Systems.
    • Enterprise Workflow Management Systems.
    • Business Process Automation platforms.
  • ...
• Example(s):
  • Business Process Models (for business processes), such as:
    • Order Processing Models (for order processing processes).
    • Customer Service Models (for customer service processes).
    • Supply Chain Models (for supply chain processes).
    • Contract Review Process Models (for contract review processes).
  • Document-Driven Workflow Models (for document-driven processs), such as:
    • Document Management Models (for document management processs).
    • Contract Processing Models (for contract processing processs).
    • Approval Process Models (for approval processs).
  • Production Workflow Models (for production processs), such as:
    • Machine Shop Models (for machine shop processs).
    • Assembly Line Models (for assembly line processs).
    • Quality Control Models (for quality control processs).
  • Data Workflow Models (for data processs), such as:
    • Data Transformation Models (for data transformation processs).
    • Scientific Workflow Models (for scientific processs).
    • Analytics Process Models (for analytics processs).
  • Service Process Models (for service processs), such as:
    • Employee Onboarding Models (for employee onboarding processs).
    • IT Change Management Models (for IT change processs).
    • Engineering Change Models (for engineering change processs).
  • ...
• Counter-Example(s):
  • an Organizational Chart, which shows structure rather than workflow.
  • a Process Description, which describes but doesn't model workflow.
  • a Task List, which enumerates activities without showing flow.
  • a Resource Schedule, which shows timing without process flow.
• See: Business Process Model, Workflow Management, Workflow Pattern, Business Process Diagram.

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References

2021

• (Wikipedia, 2021) ⇒ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/workflow Retrieved:2021-6-16.
  • A workflow consists of an orchestrated and repeatable pattern of activity, enabled by the systematic organization of resources into processes that transform materials, provide services, or process information. It can be depicted as a sequence of operations, the work of a person or group, the work of an organization of staff, or one or more simple or complex mechanisms. From a more abstract or higher-level perspective, workflow may be considered a view or representation of real work. The flow being described may refer to a document, service, or product that is being transferred from one step to another. Workflows may be viewed as one fundamental building block to be combined with other parts of an organization's structure such as information technology, teams, projects and hierarchies.

2021

• (Wikipedia, 2021) ⇒ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/workflow#Examples Retrieved:2021-6-16.
  • The following examples illustrate the variety of workflows seen in various contexts:
    1. In machine shops, particularly job shops and flow shops, the flow of a part through the various processing stations is a workflow.
    2. Insurance claims processing is an example of an information-intensive, document-driven workflow.
    3. Wikipedia editing can be modeled as a stochastic workflow.
    4. The Getting Things Done system is a model of personal workflow management for information workers.
    5. In software development, support and other industries, the concept of follow-the-sun describes a process of passing unfinished work across time zones. # In traditional offset and digital printing, the concept of workflow represents the process, people, and usually software technology (RIPs raster image processors or DFE digital front end) controllers that play a part in pre/post processing of print-related files, e.g., PDF pre-flight checking to make certain that fonts are embedded or that the imaging output to plate or digital press will be able to render the document intent properly for the image-output capabilities of the press that will print the final image. # In scientific experiments, the overall process (tasks and data flow) can be described as a directed acyclic graph (DAG). This DAG is referred to as a workflow, e.g., Brain Imaging workflows. # In healthcare data analysis, a workflow can be identified or used to represent a sequence of steps which compose a complex data analysis. # In service-oriented architectures an application can be represented through an executable workflow, where different, possibly geographically distributed, service components interact to provide the corresponding functionality under the control of a workflow management system.
    6. In shared services an application can be in the practice of developing robotic process automation (called RPA or RPAAI for self-guided RPA 2.0 based on artificial intelligence) which results in the deployment of attended or unattended software agents to an organization's environment. These software agents, or robots, are deployed to perform pre-defined structured and repetitive sets of business tasks or processes. Artificial intelligence software robots are deployed to handle unstructured data sets and are deployed after performing and deploying robotic process automation.

2021

• https://www.intelligentautomation.network/intelligent-automation-ia-rpa/articles/workflow-management-and-digitization-how-digital-workflow-tools-increase-business-process-agility-efficiency-and-automation-readiness
  • QUOTE: ... Some examples of well-know workflows include:
    • Employee Onboarding.
    • New Client Setup.
    • Product Return Authorizations.
    • Documentation Requests.
    • Purchase Approval Requests.
    • IT Change Management.
    • Engineering Change Requests.
    • Compliance Audits.
    • Website Edits.
  • Workflows are comprised of 4 essential elements:
    • Inputs - materials required to complete tasks. For example, the employee onboarding process would require the employment contract, IT set up request documentation and employee details.
    • Transformations - the specific actions or pre-defined steps required to execute whatever task the workflow is trying to accomplish. For example, processing a new hire’s documentation, assigning a customer service email to a representative or passing a new vendor contract to legal for approval.
    • Conditions - rules, such as deadlines or task order, that dictate when a particular step is completed and what the next step should be
    • Outputs - the product of the transformation or end result. For example, a signed contract, the uploading of employee contact information into an HRM.

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