According to Stevenson (2021), processes converting inputs into outputs are at the core of operations management and have strategic significance. Process selection occurs when new products or services are being planned, when technological changes are needed and when competitive pressure increases. Among the benefits of creating and using processes we can mention cost reduction, meeting customers’ expectations, and streamlining business operations.
For this discussion, do the following:
Identify what a business process is and mention its benefits and disadvantages.
Discuss what a workflow diagram is and how it can help organizations.
Select an organization you are familiar with and share the details of the workflow diagram. How many steps are in the process? How many people are in the process? Did the process have errors, time sensitivity, bottlenecks? Is the diagram effective?
Discuss the biggest challenge and benefits of the workflow of your selected organization. How would you improve the workflow diagram for them?
Explain why your new workflow design is better and how it will improve the success of the organization.
Embed course material concepts, principles, and theories, which require supporting citations along with at least one scholarly, peer-reviewed reference in supporting your answer. Keep in mind that these scholarly references can be found in the Saudi Digital Library by conducting an advanced search specific to scholarly references.
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A business process is a set of activities or tasks that are performed in order to achieve a specific business goal. According to Stevenson (2021), processes convert inputs into outputs and are at the core of operations management, having strategic significance. Business processes can be internal, such as a process for hiring new employees, or external, such as a process for fulfilling an order from a customer.
The benefits of business processes include cost reduction, meeting customers’ expectations, and streamlining business operations. For example, a well-designed process for fulfilling customer orders can lead to faster delivery times and fewer mistakes, which can improve customer satisfaction. On the other hand, the disadvantages of business processes include inflexibility, lack of innovation and inability to adapt to changing conditions.
A workflow diagram is a visual representation of a business process that shows the flow of tasks and activities, as well as the individuals or departments responsible for each step. Workflow diagrams can help organizations by providing a clear and concise view of the process, identifying bottlenecks and areas for improvement, and facilitating communication and collaboration among different teams or departments.
One organization I am familiar with is a retail store. The workflow diagram for the process of fulfilling an online order includes the following steps: receiving the order, checking stock availability, preparing the order for shipping, and shipping the order. The process involves the customer service department, the warehouse department, and the shipping department. The process did have some errors and bottlenecks, such as delays in shipping due to stock availability issues and mistakes in fulfilling orders.
The biggest challenge of the workflow for this organization is the lack of coordination and communication between different departments, leading to delays and errors in fulfilling orders. To improve the workflow, I would suggest implementing a system for real-time inventory updates and creating a unified system for managing orders, which will enable all departments to access the same information and work together more effectively.
