How can you standardize and streamline your business processes across departments or regions?

1 Identify your core processes

The first step is to identify the core processes that deliver value to your customers and stakeholders. These are the processes that define your competitive advantage, support your strategic goals, and align with your vision and mission. You can use a framework such as the Business Process Framework (BPF) or the Value Stream Mapping (VSM) to map out your core processes and their inputs, outputs, and dependencies.

2 Analyze the variations and gaps

The next step is to analyze the variations and gaps in your core processes across different departments or regions. Variations are the differences in how the same process is performed or measured in different contexts. Gaps are the discrepancies between the current and desired state of the process. You can use tools such as the Process Capability Analysis (PCA) or the Gap Analysis Matrix (GAM) to quantify and prioritize the variations and gaps that affect your performance, quality, and customer satisfaction.

3 Design the standardized and streamlined processes

The third step is to design the standardized and streamlined processes that will eliminate or reduce the variations and gaps. Standardization means applying the same rules, methods, and formats to the core processes across different departments or regions. Streamlining means simplifying, optimizing, and automating the core processes to eliminate waste, redundancy, and inefficiency. You can use techniques such as the Business Process Reengineering (BPR) or the Lean Six Sigma (LSS) to design the standardized and streamlined processes that will meet your requirements, expectations, and best practices.

4 Implement the changes and monitor the results

The fourth step is to implement the changes and monitor the results. Implementation means communicating, training, and supporting the people who will execute the standardized and streamlined processes. Monitoring means measuring, evaluating, and reporting the outcomes and impacts of the changes. You can use methods such as the Change Management (CM) or the Balanced Scorecard (BSC) to ensure a smooth and successful transition and to track and improve the performance, quality, and customer satisfaction of the standardized and streamlined processes.

5 Review and update the processes

The fifth step is to review and update the processes periodically. Review means collecting feedback, identifying issues, and assessing opportunities for improvement. Update means making adjustments, enhancements, and innovations to the processes based on the feedback, issues, and opportunities. You can use approaches such as the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) or the Agile Business Process Management (ABPM) to maintain a continuous cycle of learning and improvement for your standardized and streamlined processes.

6 Foster a culture of process excellence

The sixth step is to foster a culture of process excellence in your organization. Culture means the values, beliefs, and behaviors that influence how people work and interact. Process excellence means the commitment, collaboration, and creativity that enable people to deliver value to customers and stakeholders through efficient, effective, and adaptable processes. You can use strategies such as the Process Ownership (PO) or the Process Maturity Model (PMM) to empower, engage, and enable your people to embrace and sustain the standardization and streamlining of your business processes across departments or regions.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?