This article is the first in a series showing you exactly what steps you need to take to clearly capture your business processes with a richness that goes far beyond current Business Process Management (BPM), tools and practise . You will then be able to easily understand, share and improve your business processes and procedures and focus on optimizing your results, creating a highly aware enterprise.

To produce process and procedure videos for your business that combines the best of current mapping methodology and tools with the richness of video requires a particular format and sequence of steps. As you learn each step it’s important that you practise the format that I will teach you on a simple process in your business.

At the end of this lesson you should have:

1. An awareness of common business process mapping symbols
2. Have the software needed to complete your first process map
3. Have the software needed to video record processes and procedures

Choose one process that you know well and that isn’t too complicated. For my example, I am using a process map that I created for an energy company showing the steps needed to assign tariffs to customer accounts which are basically just different packages of charges (See figure 1).

You will notice that the map shows the steps in the process but not the detailed procedures involved or how to actually perform the tasks. It is at the procedure level that business process video is at its most powerful and can remove a lot of pain and confusion regarding understanding and performing processes.

Now, I don’t want to confuse anyone who is new to process mapping with a detailed explanation of all the elements and the in’s and out’s as it can become confusing. However, I will briefly detail the software tools and symbols that you’ll need to be familiar with to get started. I want you to give mapping a go and see the huge possibilities for creating results and freedom with its application in your business.

Software tools:

• Mapping software: Microsoft Visio 7 is cheap and sufficient for most mapping tasks and available at Microsoft (you can use any previous version of Visio but Visio 7 will enable you to produce data-driven maps that will be the topic of the follow-on series).
• Screen capture video software: Camtasia Studio 4 or 5 available at Techsmith.com

Don’t fret if you don’t have the above software as you can download free trial versions or use alternative software that you feel comfortable with. 

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