Visibility: A determining factor in a process improvement plan

Usually when talking about a processes improvement plan, everyone recognizes the importance of analyzing, modeling processes AS IS, the definition of improvements, the redesign of TO BE processes, their implementation, the new analysis of results and the consequent continuous improvement.

But one point that many forget, or at least give less importance to, is the visibility necessary for that whole process improvement plan to flow properly.

In this post, we’re going to help you understand all of the advantages of making the plan more visible and of using process documentation tools, among others, for this purpose.

Know more: How to document business processes: Value chain, AS IS and TO BE

The importance of giving visibility to a process improvement plan

Processes are invisible. And this is one of the reasons why organizations have so much difficulty in handling processes more efficiently and continuously improving them.

Before using process modeling software and other technologies, the perception of processes was different, with the use of a lot of paper and printed documents.

That is why, today, many people still like to print documents and spreadsheets. They seek to give greater tangibility to the abstractions in which processes have now become.

And despite all the advantages of using technology in managing a process improvement plan, if you don’t take a specific procedure, it’s difficult for you to see if things are going well and as scheduled, or if something wrong is happening and you need to correct it.

Giving quick, accurate answers to follow-up meetings, for example, can get tricky. This is because all information is stored on a remote server, somewhere in the cloud.

And if your BPM tool doesn’t rely on visualization dashboards, checking all this can be quite laborious.

Also see: What is a dashboard management? All you need in the blink of an eye

How do you make processes more visible and tangible?

Companies that are successful in managing a process improvement plan find a way to make them visible.

To do this, they invest time and resources to document processes in a systematic way. They capture everything the company has done and the corresponding accompanied metrics.

The main benefit of documentation is that it gives more visibility to what is happening. It creates a shared and transparent understanding of the processes and policies used in a company.

In this way, it’s possible to know where the company is going, where it should be going and how to make a process improvement plan work properly to improve the way the company delivers value to its customers, making them more and more satisfied, and consequently, loyal to the brand.

Thus, the organization can, with each new process improvement plan, evolve increasingly towards effectiveness and operational efficiency.

With each new small improvement, incrementally, they add up, and at the end of several cycles, excellence is increased. As a result, the company will develop a true and tangible competitive advantage.

And, additionally, it’s sustainable over time, as new improvements will always be in the sights of the organization’s members.

By creating a transparent and accessible process and documentation sharing culture, future improvement expectations will be in the company’s DNA.

Employees come to understand they mustn’t just deliver products and services that meet customer needs. The organization must have a roster of ever-active project improvement plans. In this way they will increasingly improve the way they deliver value to the final customer.

See more: Business process improvement definition: Surpass the competition today!

In addition to a free process modeling and documentation tool, HEFLO also has a portal where you can publish your company’s processes.

Check out how to disclose your company’s processes in a collaborative way.