Customer Reviews

The Basics of Process Mapping

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

... it's not much of a book. It's more like apamphlet. It has helped me though, and can make it easier to draw"correct" process flow diagrams. But anyone who has had experience in Process Mapping doesn't need this book! Visio has more information about Process Mapping than this book. AS I said, it is very basic but helpful to glace at, It'd be a lot better if the price was at least half.

This book is a small paperback, only 7" X 5" X 65 pages, so it doesn't go into great detail on any of the subjects. It does cover the basics such as flowchart symbols, process mapping, relationship maps and cross-functional maps. If you need to quickly prepare some flowcharts but don't know where to start this may be a good book for you.

Let's face it--there really isn't very much to process mapping. I've searched for books on it, and none of them seem to be more than 100 pages. The reason is that there isn't much to mapping out a process.

So, for the limited subject material, this book does an excellent job. It was a fast read. I think I read it in about 2 hours, going pretty slowly through it.

This book talks about three types of process maps, and from the book it says:

"Since most readers may already have experience with flowcharts, the main emphasis of this book will be on relationship and process maps. The steps you should follow to create both types of maps are included."

However, I think it focused equally on all three of the types of process maps. I mention this so you don't think that this will jut be a book on flowcharting.

I thought it was good, and helpful. It gave me some new stuff to think about, and it's a basic look at process mapping. And, like I said, there really isn't a much more complex way of looking at it.

The books attempts to give the reader a short introduction or insight into process mapping. Yet, it would go to in-depth for the basics. In addition, the author guises the reader by using different terminology for maps, such as deployment flowcharts, and IDEF models. The astonishing fact about the book is that in the end it attempts to tell you how to analyze a business. Readers are better off reviewing rengineering books.

I was looking for a book to help me broader my knowledge of processes. I didn't want a complete encyclopedia, just something usefull for begineers. This book is fine if you just want to have a general idea of mapping processes but it's quite simple. So, if you are looking for something more than just knowing the diferent ways to map a process and basics rules I think maybe there are better options. Anyway, for a very general knowledge could be a good option.

This book is great for anyone who needs to understand process mapping in a hurry. It covers the three basic levels of process mapping clearly and uses very understandable examples. It won't make you an expert but it will make you conversant on this important skill for consultants and others involved in process re-engineering.

This book is a great high level overview of process mapping. It covers the basics: the flow chart symbols in a process map, swim lane diagrams, relationship maps, cross functional process maps, common analysis questions and common pitfalls for process mapping.

If you are new to process mapping, this book is great. If you are a seasoned process mapper or business analyst this book is a nice, briefcase-friendly reference. Internal consultants, business analysts, and any one wanting to do things better can benefit from this book. (Use it to educate your clients.)

This book can be an enabler for individuals desiring to make changes in their organizations. The basic practices in this book can help any business by allowing a few basic tools and techniques to be accessible to a large number of people.

Tells you how to draw diagrams basically on paper. Not even good as an introduction to process mapping.

This book is rather for beginners in process mapping. It is clear extremely well focused, and effective. I got the information I needed in less than two hours of pleasant lecture. No dumb explanations about obvious real life examples covering more than 60% of the book! Book starts with a crisp and nice presentation of Relationship Map, Cross-functional Process Map and Flowchart. After that Flowcharting, Process Mapping, Relationship Maps, Cross-Functional Process Maps are explained and followed by an easy to understand example. The book ends with Analyzing a Process chapter that I found good to start analyzing and improving my own processes. The book is useful for managers, consultants and students as a start in process mapping and or process improvement projects. I'll keep it as useful reference for my work
Highly appreciate your work Robert, thank you!

The first thing one learns after reading this tiny book is the appreciation for the various levels of detail one can get into while mapping processes. At the outset, the author lays out the three main types of process maps and their corresponding purposes and levels of detail. This is of immense benefit to somebody new to process mapping. The "Relationship Map" shows how various departments of an enterprise (e.g. HR, Supply Chain, Manufacturing) exchange resources, while the "flowchart" shows various tasks involved in accomplishing a specific end (thus, this has the most detail). A working group can use this guideline to prevent from getting into details too quickly, or having prolonged generic discussions.

The rest of the book unfolds, with examples, the "Relationship Map" and the "Crossfunctional Map". Tips to improve processes such as identifying disconnects and imbalance of detail are discussed. There is a section on anlayzing the developed processes.

The book is relatively tiny containing only 60 pages and can thus be studied in a very short time.