Comment Re:Tough project (Score 1) 370
Yes, process documentation helps replace a person more easily...but it is important to note that management isn't just going to fire you because they have a doc instead of you. If a person is doing a bad job than you're going to get let go eventually.
Process documentation does have a few key other advantages:
1. management visibility into what the workers do - how many times has someone asked you for something without having a clue how much work is involved or asked for it in an unreasonable amount of time? with process documentation, people can help management understand what they are doing and how long it takes. This can also be good because it can show management how much value a person creates (I've even seen it get a person a promotion)
2. process documentation is also one of the first steps in taking a systematic approach to process improvement. There is a new industry called "Business Process Management (BPM)" which focuses on enabling companies to improve their processes as a key competitive practice. we've all had headaches from the work we have to do or even the people we have to work with (such as signoffs from 4 different people for no reason) and once you start documenting, you can start improving.
Some people are commenting that it isn't in anyone's interest to do this type of project...that simply isn't true. There will always be those bad apples that resist change and will make it difficult but process documentation help everyone in the end and helps keep our companies efficient and effective so it can keep making money and pay for our salaries.
I use a tool called Lombardi Blueprint. It is a web 2.0 app that combines a wiki, workflow diagraming, and chat and more so I never have to worry about that whole documented-once-never-looked-at-again-huge-stack-of-papers-collecting-dust issue. It's also got a couple of cool features like map view and automatically creates PowerPoints to help out with #1 above. they give away completely free accounts so i'd recommend you check it out.
Process documentation does have a few key other advantages:
1. management visibility into what the workers do - how many times has someone asked you for something without having a clue how much work is involved or asked for it in an unreasonable amount of time? with process documentation, people can help management understand what they are doing and how long it takes. This can also be good because it can show management how much value a person creates (I've even seen it get a person a promotion)
2. process documentation is also one of the first steps in taking a systematic approach to process improvement. There is a new industry called "Business Process Management (BPM)" which focuses on enabling companies to improve their processes as a key competitive practice. we've all had headaches from the work we have to do or even the people we have to work with (such as signoffs from 4 different people for no reason) and once you start documenting, you can start improving.
Some people are commenting that it isn't in anyone's interest to do this type of project...that simply isn't true. There will always be those bad apples that resist change and will make it difficult but process documentation help everyone in the end and helps keep our companies efficient and effective so it can keep making money and pay for our salaries.
I use a tool called Lombardi Blueprint. It is a web 2.0 app that combines a wiki, workflow diagraming, and chat and more so I never have to worry about that whole documented-once-never-looked-at-again-huge-stack-of-papers-collecting-dust issue. It's also got a couple of cool features like map view and automatically creates PowerPoints to help out with #1 above. they give away completely free accounts so i'd recommend you check it out.
