Process

Intro

A process is a sequence or flow of activities with the objective of carrying out work. In BPMN, it is a graph of activities, events, gateways, and sequence flows with defined execution semantics.

Key points:

• Provides structure for consistent outcomes.
• Enables analysis, automation, and governance.
• Common use cases across EA/BPM/Data/App/Tech include operations, customer journeys, and compliance procedures.
• Pitfall: undocumented processes that vary by team.

Examples:

• Order-to-cash workflow across functions.
• Service request fulfillment in IT.
• Data quality remediation process.

In practice:

Define process boundaries, inputs, outputs, roles, and KPIs; then model and automate where feasible.

Related terms: BPMN; Process Modeling; Key Performance Indicator

FAQs:

Q: Are processes the same as procedures?
A: Procedures detail how tasks are performed within a process.

Q: Can processes be nested?
A: Yes; use sub-processes to encapsulate detail.

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