Process mapping is a method that promotes improved understanding of business processes and helps organizations identify areas for improvement. A process map outlines the individual steps within a process, identifying task owners and detailing expected timelines.
Most process maps start at a macro level and provide more detail as necessary, communicating processes among stakeholders, according to IBM. They use visual representations, such as basic symbols, to describe each element of a process and are a common component of business process management (BPM). Process maps come in various forms and can have different names including flowcharts, flow diagrams, rendered process maps, workflow diagrams and process models.
The power of process mapping
These maps can be highly useful in helping businesses become more efficient and effective by providing greater transparency around decision-making and process flow. Companies can use them to identify redundancies and bottlenecks within and between processes, improve collaboration and support process improvement.
The PEX Report 2024, PEX Network’s flagship industry research report, found that more than a third (35 percent) of businesses use process mapping/modeling tools to support operational excellence (OPEX) and transformation strategies. Meanwhile, almost a quarter of businesses (20 percent) plan to invest in process modeling/mapping in the coming year.
Process mapping has the power to turn employees into powerful catalysts for driving successful business transformation, says Marc Stromberg, co-founder and VP sales international at GBTEC. With the advent of AI technologies, process mapping has become more powerful and effortless than ever, he adds. “AI-powered BPM solutions can craft detailed process landscapes as if by magic, eliminating the need for manual mapping efforts.”
Here are five free training courses for anyone looking to expand their process mapping understanding, knowledge and skills.
1. A practical guide for process mapping – Alison/Stone River eLearning
This course teaches learners about the importance of process maps and how to create them using a six-step model. It also explains process map symbols/terminologies, introduces specific types of flowcharts and outlines a swimlane diagram along with the situations where it is best applied, demonstrating real-life examples to ensure concepts are clearly understood.
2. Business Process Mapping – airSlate Academy
Delivered by airSlate Academy, this course walks participants through the process mapping method, its deliverable benefits and how to implement it into business processes. By its end, learners will be equipped with the knowledge necessary to build an efficient step-by-step process map for their organization’s workflows, including examples of automating business process mapping for the most typical workflows. The course includes lessons, a quiz to consolidate know-how and test new skills and a certificate upon completion.
3. Getting started: Process mapping with BPMN – GBTEC
This course, provided by GBTEC, explores business process modeling notation (BPMN), a flowchart method that models the steps of a business process from start to end. It outlines the most important BPMN elements and the situations in which they are appropriate, along with demonstrating how BPMN modeling it differs by using GBTEC’s tool BIC Process Design. The course is designed for process modelers and people responsible for process management.
4. Process Mapping: Toolkit and Techniques – Alison/Robert Chapman
This course begins with an overview of the Lean Six Sigma method and the Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control (DMAIC) approach to better grasp the purpose of different process maps before introducing learners to the various tools used in mapping business processes. It then explores concepts such as value stream maps, the suppliers, inputs, process, outputs and customers (SIPOC) approach, time value maps, value-add charts and spaghetti diagrams used for viewing and analyzing process data. Participants learn which tool to use in a particular phase of DMAIC and how to identify bottlenecks, repetition and delays.
5. Business process mapping crash course – PRIME BPM
PRIME BPM’s live crash course outlines roles and responsibilities in the context of process mapping and illustrates how to build maps consistently across a business. Learners come away with the skills to identify bottlenecks and waste in processes and classify processes at the right level. They also gain a recognized process mapping certification, short and sharp tips on process mapping, the confidence to build process maps with accuracy and as per industry standards and the opportunity to interact with experienced BPM industry experts.
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