I have joined a team who seems to be allocated projects/smaller pieces of work to work on in an ad-hoc manner such that no on eknows what they have on in the netx 2 weeks. I woudl like to create some sort of process flow to assist them in defining work and to enable forward planning. Any tips? Saving Changes...
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Ketan KarkhanisKetan A Karkhanis| CiscoSunnyvale, Ca, United States
- Ensure the process you outline is repeatable
-Develop a comprehensive list of all activities
-Pick the key activity
- Dont worry about solving 100% of the problem. Focus on the key activity and document the process flow of that ( For Eg : Look to centralize requirement management and roadmap tracking)
- Do not change to many things at the same time
-Solicit feedback and involve the entire team. Let them know what they will gain
-Do not bother creating lengthy process flow documents. Just create brief flow pictures
-Ensure once the process is created there are penalties for not following it
- Be open to changing the process
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Joe MooneySenior Technology Project Manager| Independent ConsultantOviedo, Fl, United States
This is just how I would approach this, and of course others may have alternatives, but it seems to me that you don't want to force feed them but take small steps towards coordination and planning.
I would suggest a couple of high-level visual tools that might help. The first would be a high-level process diagram that shows the big picture. This is referred to as a Level 1 or Core Procress diagram. It is that level of process that everyone seems to agree on and is a unifying model for additional detail. In an easy to absorb, one page diagram it attempts to identify the major steps in the process and the input and output that begins and ends that step and the actions that take place during that. Each of the "Core" steps is eventually an area of concentration for its own detailed process model based on the actions identified here. The model also identifies customers and stakeholders in each step. I've attached a sample to this reply.
The other diagram that we find helpful is the Interaction Diagram. This is a six sigma based tool and you can find a description at the ASQ (American Society for Quality) site. Briefly it identifies the major events, determines resources and locations and documents the relationships.
There are many other tools available and I recommend the book, "Defining and Analyzing a Business Process: A Six Sigma Pocket Guide" that provides a brief overview of them.
Good luck with this and if you need further assistance, feel free to let me know.
