Customer Reviews

Mapping Work Processes

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I have used this text in university and real-world business settings with great success. Unlike many other texts on the subject, this one gets to the heart of the matter, quickly and neatly. There's little theory here; this is a how-to book of first order.

Galloway's approach to decision diamonds is the best I have seen. Also, her use of process checks is simple but consistent with other preventive prescriptions, such as FMEA and QFD.

The last chapters are dedicated to several techniques to improve processes. They beg for a few more examples, but even with this little drawback, all of the major process engineering tools are listed.

I am ordering 12 more texts for my Ops Team. We will use this text as a backbone of our continuous improvement activites over the next year.

This 89 page book has two things going for it:

(1) Logical approach to mapping work processes

(2) Clear, concise writing

Ms. Galloway's logical approach to mapping work processes is evident from the table of contents, which contains:

Introduction to Mapping

Select the Process

Define the Process

Chart the Primary Process

Chart Inspection Points

Develop Inspection Standards

Draw Lines and Arrows

Chart Inputs and Suppliers

Chart Subprocesses

Plan Future Activities

She keeps this approach simple and assumes that the reader knows nothing about mapping work processes. I like the lack of fluff and concise (if not terse) writing that is augmented by over 50 figures and illustrations.

If you want to learn how to map work processes this is the book with which to embark on your learning experience. I give it five stars for its clarity and completeness.

The author explains basics in painful detail. The example used are purposely non-business (setting the table, getting gas for your car) so as to illustrate the "concept" of process mapping. So, if you know absolutely nothing about process mapping, I suppose this is a good place to start. However, this is SO basic, it would also help your appreciation of this book if you were a complete dolt. If, on the other hand, you are looking for practical applications to your work processes (rather than seeting your table or getting gas for your car), you're in the wrong book! Similarly, if you'd like to get past the basics, then you have to go past this book.

This is just the book that I was looking for on process mapping.

It goes through the basics of process mapping, gives a little detail on how to do the mapping, and tells you how to use process maps for process improvement. It's published by the American Society for Quality (ASQ) so that's probably why the obligatory reference to process improvement.

This book is only 89 pages, like it says above, but it's really good for being a short book.

This book talks a lot about how to coordinate the efforts of a group to do process mapping.

I've always been a lone process mapper. I think that unless the person who runs the company loves process maps, then you're going to have a hard time getting enough buyoff from management to get together a group of people to just develop a process map. But, given that you can do that, this is an excellent reference.

I hope Dianne writes more books, because she's a really good writer.

Also, let me warn you that this book uses simple process examples. I actually liked that. I've already done over 100 process maps, but still I learned a lot from this book, even though the examples are simple.

The book explains this in the preface. Dianne says that there would be too much arguement over the best business practices of business examples, and since the point of the book is teaching flowcharting, then she should use examples that are already familiar to everyone, and examples where there will be little debate.

That made sense to me, and I really liked this book.

I highly recommend this book to the skilled and unskilled. This a very informative book that includes "buzzwords" often used by the gurus-puts it in laymen terms. A great source for educating clients and students on process mapping. Thorough and comprehensible. The price makes it more accessible to the average business person.

Within the first 2 pages of the workbook (the preface, mind you), I was very much behind Ms. Galloway and her approach to this technique. In other reviews you'll see criticism of the book for being seen as simplistic, but I think she strikes the right note. This is a simple, effective process and it's far better to learn to walk it before you start picking out your running shoes. Also, I would venture to guess that the majority of people who would benefit from using the process and would be asked to map a process never need to get much more complicated than the steps detailed in this workbook. Just because you can make a more complicated map doesn't always mean that you should. For people who can appreciate that sentiment, then this book is for you.

Also, the book receives criticism for using common/ordinary tasks such as filling your car with gasoline, but I think the author provides a very valid explanation for that approach. If she were to use a mock business scenario the temptation is to focus on what is going on in the scenario (is it the same as what we do or different?) rather than what is to be learned. This is sound education theory and it makes for a more intuitive learning process.

For the cost of the book, I was expecting some more advanced concepts than examples such as how to set a table, get gas for your car, and get ready for work. This is a workbook more for students learning how to create workflow diagrams. For a working professional, it is useless. It does not deal with complex work processes.

Very disappointing slim volume (81 pages) , that could do much much better.
Uses simplistic examples of the setting-out of dinner tables, filling automobile and getting dressed in the morning as the example base.
Little mention is made of changes required to style (swim lanes to include GUI interactions & handover) tie into UML Use Cases etc.
There is no reference to descriptive and emerging standards (UML type is NOT used) nor is any mention made of the various standards organisations.
There is little in the way of design approaches & simulation issues, change strategies, analysis of designs or implementation approach. No reference is made to modelling software and simulation tools.
No strategies are given for validation of the changes
There is little or no measurement of KPI's, costs and productivity / cost benefit analysis and practice.
No reference is made to sector best practice & the business patterns available.
No reference is made to workflow automation (internal & external), the software available and options approaches currently being used.
There are no Post Implementation Review (PIR) suggestions.
Basically unless you are a novice it is a complete waste of time and money.

If you are a beginner in the area of quality or process improvement and are looking for a text or guide on process-mapping, this will be ideal one for you.

This book goes in detail of process mapping, which is not exactly like making a flow-chart. A Process map goes in depth to map the intricate details of the process and identify the opportunities for improvement. This is actually a workbook for process mapping. Author has taken three very simple processes from everyday life and has mapped them to the intricate details. These simple examples will help all kind of readers in various unctional areas to understand the concept. Whether you are in manufacturing or accounting or finance or procurement, once you read this text, you will be able to visualize your work processes.

For advanced professionals, there are lot more books focusing on their specific areas.

And yes, if you are an ASQ member, you can buy it cheaper at their website,as you will get membership discount. Enjoy !

This book shows how to create flowcharts, which are proven to help improve any work process. Detailed exercises teach anyone how to chart and document processes, understand them, and make improvements from them. This hands-on, step-by-step workbook includes instructions on how to document work processes-a requirement for ISO 9000 registration.


Contents :
Introduction to Mapping
Select the Process
Define the Process
Chart the Primary Process
Chart Inspection Points
Develop Inspection Standards
Draw Lines and Arrows
Chart Inputs and Suppliers
Chart Subprocesses
Plan Future Activities