Winning Without Competition: How to Break Out of a Commodity ...

The logic for process redesign work is similar to that for the 7-Step improvement
process, but the steps embrace multiple problems and causes. The steps are:
• Plan
~ Identify desired outcomes and measures of process
~ Create the "as is" process map. Take baseline measurements and identify
process "disconnects," i.e., missing, illogical or redundant steps or flawed
logic
~ Theorize and test ways to stratify where problems appear
~ Theorize and test causes of problems
• Do
~ Pretend you are starting from scratch. How would you (ideally) organize
this process to eliminate problems?
~ Seek broad-based feedback on one or more "should" designs and select
and modify "should" process map accordingly. Use evaluation criteria to
choose among options
• Check
~ Does new process offer improvement over basement measurement?
• Act
~ "Institutionalize" the new process
- Educate
- Standardize
- Establish improvement goals and manage
As you envision a redesign, it is important to keep the following principles in
mind:
• Eliminate waste
• Simplify
• Create alternate paths when a uniform approach will not work
• Increase speed (establish concurrent activities wherever possible vs. linear,
sequenced activities).
• Use technology when it adds value
Team Exercise: Process Redesign, continued
Appendix Three provides a process redesign exercise. After completing the
process redesign exercise, discuss the following questions as a team:
• Are there processes that should be completely redefined from the start if we
want to genuinely execute our competitive strategy?
• What would be the benefit of doing this?
• How can we get started?
Leadership’s Role in Process Improvement and Redesign
Pamphlet #5 Page 195