What is a Business Process?
Every business relies on a set of activities or processes that allow it to function.
A manufacturing business obtains raw materials, creates a product, and delivers that
product to customers. A service business hires the right service providers, trains them,
and sends them out to serve customers. Countless business processes within
each organization carry these operations forward smoothly and, when all goes well,
profitably.
Processes can be analyzed at different levels, from the small (how should a cook grill a
burger?) to the enterprise-wide (how should our organization route internal communications?)
Frequently, processes are grouped for analysis by department or division:
- Procurement: Obtain resources and materials
- Product development: Plan, design, and refine goods and services
- Production: Manufacture and provide goods or services
- Delivery: Receive, fulfill, and track shipments
- Accounting: Track financial transactions and investments
- Human Resources: Hire employees, manage benefits and payroll
- Marketing: Promote goods and services
- Customer Service: Answer questions and solve customer problems