Before any process is automated, there must be done careful process mapping. Although the idea looks trivial and self evident, it is often ignored in vast majority of automation initiatives. As a result, true mapping reveals itself already after implementation. Surprisingly, it often has nothing in common with original automation plan. This careless attitude to preliminary process study is one of the most common reasons for faults in process automation.
As a next step, it is useful to do an exploratory process mining to reveal true variability of the existing process. If process is volatile, it might be very laborious or even impossible to automate. It is wrong to think that mining is suitable only for processes, which are already automated. Simple mining can be done even for a purely manual process by just recording its steps by hand and comparing them with previously prepared process map.
Put together, these simple rules can ensure smooth implementation and good effect from automation.
Role of business processes in a digital company is far more important than in a traditional organization because digital organization literally consists of the digital business processes it implements. Traditionally, most business processes are in possession of workers or groups of workers, in other words, process stakeholders. Every worker holds in memory, experience, notes or corporate regulations certain course of action to follow in every particular situation. This implicit or partially formalized set of rules comprises a business model of a company. The model is subject to change by mere verbal discussion and agreement between workers and management, happen business environment evolves or new challenges appear. Situation is entirely different in a digital organization. Digital systems do not have any implicit awareness on business aspects, just an explicit algorithm to do exact functions, for which they were designed. Therefore, a digital business system is a manifestation of a bu...
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