Workflow analysis seeks to identify workflow patterns that maximize the efficient use of resources while minimizing activities that add no value. A variety of tools can be used to analyze process workflow and identify potential waste-reduction opportunities. Flowcharts are a basic and widely used workflow analysis method that can help identify areas that need to be streamlined.

In this Assignment, you will choose a common event that occurs on a regular basis in your organization and create a flowchart to represent the workflow. You examine the process diagram and make suggestions for improvement.

To get ready:

Determine a common, simple event that occurs frequently in your organization and that you would like to evaluate.
Consider how you would represent the current workflow in a flowchart.
Consider what metrics you would use to assess the efficacy of the current workflow and identify waste.
To finish:

Create a 3- to 5-page paper that includes the following information:

Make a simple flowchart of the activity you’ve chosen. (For an example, see the Sample Workflow of Answering a Telephone in an Office document in this week’s Learning Resources.)
Following that, in your paper:
Explain the process you’ve depicted with a diagram.
Determine the following for each step or decision point in the process:
Who is responsible for this step? (It could be a group of people.)
What technology is employed?
What policies and rules govern how, when, why, and where the step is carried out?
What information is required to carry out this step?
Describe the metric that is currently used to assess the workflow’s soundness. Is it efficient?
Describe any areas where improvements could be made and propose changes to the workflow that would result in these improvements.
Explain why it is critical to be aware of the flow of an activity.