From IPAPI

Business Process Analysis

In general, analysis is defined as the procedure by which we break down an intellectual or substantial whole into parts or components. Literally, Business Process Analysis would then be the practice of breaking down of business process into its smaller parts or components. This is really only the first part of the job as it typically includes "synthesis" in that we typically find ways of reconstructing the process in some improved fashion. It also begs the question if the outcome of the process is relevant to the intended customer. Any effective synthesis needs to consistently deliver successful outcomes at minimal cost.

IPAPI Definition

Business Process Analysis is the systematic breakdown of a process into its relevant process diagnostics (Moments of Truth, Break Points, Business Rules, and activities), including the desired outcome(s), and then finding multiple forms the process could take to deliver the desired outcome(s) while reducing Causes of Work and Points of Failure.

Overview

Process analysis may or may not start with evaluation of the outcome(s). This analysis evaluates one or both parameters around the outcome; the first being clear identification of the appropriate consumer of the outcome and second the outcome desired by that consumer. The consumer can be an entity within the company, a intermediary consumer outside the company or the final consumer. Consumer can also be substituted with the word customer. While it is prudent to ask the questions around customer relevancy for greater success, it is sometimes not within the remit or authority of those performing the analysis. In this case, the assumption is the current outcomes are the desired outcomes.

Analysis then typically involves understanding the activities around the process and identifying the embedded diagnostics. IPAPI uses the Current State process model to capture the natural state of the process. Then the activities can be further analyzed to discover their Moments of Truth, Break Points, and Business Rules.

Synthesis involves identifying multiple actions which can be taken on the process to achieve various levels of diagnostic reduction. The benefit of developing multiple actions is found in having tactical choices which can be matched to available resources, organizational acceptance and strategy. Reductions in diagnostics consistently results in reduction of costs, and increases in revenue and customer satisfaction.