Mapping Work Processes

By Dianne Galloway

Book Overview

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• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0873892666
• ISBN13: 9780873892667
• Release Date: January 1994
• Publisher: ASQ Quality Press
• Length: 89 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 8.7" x 11.0"

Customer Reviews

Extremely good book on process mapping

This is just the book that I was looking for on process mapping. It goes through the basics of process mapping, gives a little detail on how to do the mapping, and tells you how to use process maps for process improvement. It's published by the American Society for Quality (ASQ) so that's probably why the obligatory reference to process improvement. This book is only 89 pages, like it says above, but it's really good for being a short book. This book talks a lot about how to coordinate the efforts of a group to do process mapping. I've always been a lone process mapper. I think that unless the person who runs the company loves process maps, then you're going to have a hard time getting enough buyoff from management to get together a group of people to just develop a process map. But, given that you can do that, this is an excellent reference. I hope Dianne writes more books, because she's a really good writer. Also, let me warn you that this book uses simple process examples. I actually liked that. I've already done over 100 process maps, but still I learned a lot from this book, even though the examples are simple. The book explains this in the preface. Dianne says that there would be too much arguement over the best business practices of business examples, and since the point of the book is teaching flowcharting, then she should use examples that are already familiar to everyone, and examples where there will be little debate. That made sense to me, and I really liked this book.

Getting the basics right

Within the first 2 pages of the workbook (the preface, mind you), I was very much behind Ms. Galloway and her approach to this technique. In other reviews you'll see criticism of the book for being seen as simplistic, but I think she strikes the right note. This is a simple, effective process and it's far better to learn to walk it before you start picking out your running shoes. Also, I would venture to guess that the majority of people who would benefit from using the process and would be asked to map a process never need to get much more complicated than the steps detailed in this workbook. Just because you can make a more complicated map doesn't always mean that you should. For people who can appreciate that sentiment, then this book is for you.Also, the book receives criticism for using common/ordinary tasks such as filling your car with gasoline, but I think the author provides a very valid explanation for that approach. If she were to use a mock business scenario the temptation is to focus on what is going on in the scenario (is it the same as what we do or different?) rather than what is to be learned. This is sound education theory and it makes for a more intuitive learning process.

Short and to the point - excellent for beginners

This 89 page book has two things going for it:(1) Logical approach to mapping work processes(2) Clear, concise writingMs. Galloway's logical approach to mapping work processes is evident from the table of contents, which contains:Introduction to MappingSelect the ProcessDefine the ProcessChart the Primary ProcessChart Inspection PointsDevelop Inspection StandardsDraw Lines and ArrowsChart Inputs and SuppliersChart SubprocessesPlan Future ActivitiesShe keeps this approach simple and assumes that the reader knows nothing about mapping work processes. I like the lack of fluff and concise (if not terse) writing that is augmented by over 50 figures and illustrations.If you want to learn how to map work processes this is the book with which to embark on your learning experience. I give it five stars for its clarity and completeness.

WOW! Process Mapping

I highly recommend this book to the skilled and unskilled. This a very informative book that includes "buzzwords" often used by the gurus-puts it in laymen terms. A great source for educating clients and students on process mapping. Thorough and comprehensible. The price makes it more accessible to the average business person.

Process Map Like a Pro!

I have used this text in university and real-world business settings with great success. Unlike many other texts on the subject, this one gets to the heart of the matter, quickly and neatly. There's little theory here; this is a how-to book of first order.Galloway's approach to decision diamonds is the best I have seen. Also, her use of process checks is simple but consistent with other preventive prescriptions, such as FMEA and QFD.The last chapters are dedicated to several techniques to improve processes. They beg for a few more examples, but even with this little drawback, all of the major process engineering tools are listed.I am ordering 12 more texts for my Ops Team. We will use this text as a backbone of our continuous improvement activites over the next year.