Customer Reviews

Process Mapping: How to Reengineer Your Business Processes

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1 star:		(4)

 

 

Mostly, I'm going to second another reviewer's comments on this book. This is a very introductory level text, with not much "meat" to it. I will go one further, though.

I agree that Mr. Hunt stays pretty basic most of the time, while in other parts he goes deeper without telling us (the reader) what exactly his terminology means beforehand. Somehow we make the transition from extremely basic mapping to filling out Process Mapping Forms in detail without much in between these two stages.

Another criticism I have for the book "Process Mapping" is the overuse of cut and paste. Okay, I understand that word processors make this whole cut & paste thing very easy, but when you find yourself reading the same sentences verbatim a page later; we have gone to far. This is not only in the product reviews, but in the text as well. I can only take so much of that.

On the plus side, this book gets to the point quickly. Secondly, it does talk about the advantages and disadvantages of using some software packages (e.g. Visio) for your process mapping initiative. Probably too many case studies for my liking, but they do show you have other companies have had successes with each package.

So, in summary, you could use excerpts from this book to explain the very basics of process mapping to a coworker or your boss, but I would not try to actually attempt the art of mapping out a process without picking up a better laid-out, more comprehensive book on the subject.

This is an excellent substantitive book for individuals interested in understanding how to improve your business processess. In particular the sections on software selection, data collection, and the development of effective teams to help understand and reengineer your business processes are unique. Hunt provides for the business community an insight to the government developed IDEF approach to process mapping. An excellent one-stop-source for process mapping.

If you ever had difficulty explaining what you do then this book in for you. Explaining daily operations internally within an organization is one thing, but trying to externally explain is were most managers hit the anxiety wall head-on. This book clearly defines the rational of utilizing the Intergrated Definition for Function Modeling (IDEFO). Process mapping utilizing a standard ensures common language understanding internally as well as externally. The ability for managers to explain what they do to all stakeholders is the foundation and vital key to true 360 degree process improvement.

This book provides an excellent overview of the fundamentals of process mapping, including the IDEF methodology. It provides a series of brief but clear case studies in Chapter 5. Chapter 8 provides a unique INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT of Process Mapping Tools. A must buy book for the individual that is beginning to understand and apply process mapping.

Not a lot of original research here. The author seems to "borrow" an awful lot from public domain documents about IDEF. Several of the case studies in Chapter 5 are lifted verbatim from MetaSoftware's marketing literature. Lots of disparate chapters, no unifying theme. This is going to be the first book I've ever bought from Amazon that I will be returning. Definetely not recommended.

The book contains very little practical information and spends more chapters selling the reader on the concept of process mapping than it does on the concept itself.

I cannot really recommend this book. IMHO, the book makes the classic mistake of trying to serve all audiences but satisfying none. The first four chapters of the book cover 'fluff' topics such as executive sponsorship, identifying strategic goals, getting process owners involved etc. Each of these points are valid of course, but the book drones on repetitiously about them, rehashing each point and spending several paragraphs to explain common sense ideas that can be explained in one sentence (if that sounds like something a consultant would do - you're right on target - the author is a consultant). The cases studies are useless - and oddly short. They seem more like marketing material or PR statements. The chapter on IDEF is decent, but a bit shallow. I was looking for this book to help me develop a good "as-is" map. The IDEF chapter gave me a few good ideas, but was generally lacking in examples. As other reviewers have said, this book lacks substance. I was very glad I checked it out from the library. I would NOT purchase this book. I have to say this book provided minimal value in my re-engineering project.

a good book although I was looking for a book to help me broader my knowledge of quality. im looking for something perhaps with more details about lot sampling, SPC even six-sigma...still overall a good book for those of you in the begining stages of quality process mapping.

Easy language, nice examples, easy explanations, lots of references about other authors and books related

There is nothing in this book that and educated practioner or someone who's on the path to becoming one would find of value. The name of the book is a misnomer, most chapters dealt with motherhood concepts around BPR, very little time and effort was devoted to the actual Business Process Mapping practices. All in all a disappointing book leaving a void in a subject much in need of guidance.