What is process mapping?

It is a corporate governance practice with the aim of collecting, analyzing and drawing the diagram of all stages of a given activity, including the staff and tools involved in the work process.

According to the Lucidchart platform, there are several types of process maps, such as the Activity Process Map; Detailed Process Map; Document Map; High Level Process Map; and others. 

This technique can be applied in several segments and business models. Concisely, it consolidates key points for the functioning of a company. And the greater the clarity and awareness of the processes, the greater the possibility of improving the stages and opening space for innovation. 

What is the goal of process mapping

Process mapping is directly linked to the efficiency of companies. Thus, one of the great benefits is the reduction of waste and idle time, as the mapping streamlines work processes and communication. Another great advantage has to do with the possibility of translating complex work models into flows and graphics. See how to apply this technique in your company:

How to map the processes of a company

The technique for mapping processes is, as the name implies, procedural. When starting it, it is important to respect the company's workflow and follow step by step. Check out each step: 

Identify the problem

The first step in mapping processes is to make a diagnosis of each activity, employee and equipment in the company. So, it will be possible to distinguish all components and sequences of internal processes and to identify bottlenecks, waste and activities that require improvement. To do this, you can invite a professional from each area or conduct an internal survey.

Set your goals

Once you have the improvements to be made, it is time to define what is a priority and what can wait a little longer. In other words, you will define what is your general objective and what are the specific ones. From this, it will be possible to engage the team based on the same perceptions and avoid dispersion or loss of focus.

Define roles and organize tasks

With your goals in mind, map where each task and demand starts and ends. Keep in your records all outputs, inputs and roles of those involved in each step of the work. From there, delegate new roles and tasks and make the necessary changes to better distribute resources and costs. 

Finish your strategy and test it out

At the end of the mapping, review each step and validate with the interested and involved parties. With the whole team united, ask yourselves: 

1. Is this the best possible version of the process?

2. Is there a step that has been overlooked?

3. Are there duplicates or steps that need to be modified?

4. How can we make the process even better?

5. Ask for suggestions from people who work on daily tasks.

After closing this step, it's time to get the process mapping up and running. After all, there is nothing better than putting it into practice to validate your mapping. There are several technology consultancies specialized in this area. So if you have any doubts, talk to us!