Process map

Process map – For a holistic overview of business processes  

A process map provides a comprehensive overview of all of a company’s business processes and is an indispensable tool for effective process management and the optimisation of company structures.  

What is a process map?  

A process map is comparable to an organisation chart which shows the organisational structure of a company. However, all business processes are visualised in the process map and grouped into higher-level main processes. This graphical representation makes it possible to capture and analyse the entire process structure of the company at a glance. 

Schematic representation of the process map:

1. Performance processes (core processes): Those are directly involved in value creation and transform input into customer-oriented outputs. Examples include production processes or service provision.  
2. Support processes (support processes): They create the necessary framework conditions for the performance processes to be carried out. These include IT support, logistics and accounting, for example.  
3. Management processes: These include all activities of corporate management and controlling that are necessary to manage and monitor the company.  

Benefits of a process map  

The development of a process map has numerous advantages:  

• Transparency: it creates a clear and transparent representation of all company processes.  

• Communication: The process map facilitates internal and external communication by providing a simple and comprehensible visualisation of company processes.  

• Increased efficiency: By revealing process correlations and possible redundancies, inefficiencies can be identified and eliminated.  
• Potential for improvement: It helps to recognise potential for improvement and support strategic decisions.  

From the process map to the process model  

The process map is the starting point for the development of a more detailed process model. In the process model, the individual processes are further refined, interfaces are defined and responsibilities are assigned. This enables an even more precise analysis and optimisation of the process flows.  

Creating and using a process map is a critical step for any organisation that wants to improve process efficiency, simplify communication and make informed strategic decisions. With a well-planned process map, a company can clearly define and optimise its processes and set them up for long-term success.

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