Key Steps in Documenting Business Processes

 

One of the key roles of the business analyst is working with clients to assist them in implementing new systems, which enables them to become more efficient and meet their company goals. That’s very important, because before you start implementing a new system, you have to know what your current system is doing. One of the key roles in doing that is making sure you write what’s called a ‘business process document’. A business process document outlines, from start to finish, the processes in the current system, so that you know what to do in the future. 

There are several steps that go into writing a business process document:

1. Name
2. Purpose
3. Process activities
4. Process flowchart
5. Process inputs
6. Process outputs
7. Team roles
8. Review documentation 

Be patient when writing a business process document. It could take a lot of effort, depending on the kind of system that you’re writing, or implementing. Systems can have a lot of processes, so the document may be very big, but just be patient and stay the course. Be very detail-oriented when you document these processes and make sure you don’t miss even the smallest detail. 

You have to step in the customer’s shoes and think, “Okay I’ve been using this system for so many years and know it very well”,  but you really don’t. You’re learning a whole new product and a whole new system. Ultimately, you’ll end up learning so much about yourself and the business.