As an entrepreneur, you build your business from the ground up. As time goes on, you will need to create standard processes and procedures to replicate over time. How can you set up the right procedures so that things can run smoothly on a daily basis?
How to Create Standard Business Processes
To create standard business processes, you need to identify key processes and then document them.
#1 Identify Processes that Create Value
Which business processes and procedures do employees spend time on? Which processes and procedures generate income for the business? Together, these processes and procedures create value for the customer and are part of the value chain of the business.
The value chain details business processes that require improvements. The specific processes will depend on your business.
The following are a few examples of business processes:
- Product development, project management, or product design
- Purchasing
- Production & deliveries
- Logistics and distribution
- Sales
- Marketing
- Customer Service
The value chain also includes support processes, which relate to other processes. A few examples of support processes include:
- Financial Management
- Accounting
- Personnel Management
- Quality Assurance
Once you have identified the key processes in your business, you can move on to the next step of documentation.
#2 Document Processes
Map out the key business processes to provide a visual overview. Next, you will want to describe each of the individual processes in detail and document them. The goal is to outline how each business process should be executed.
The following are a few examples of documentation:
- Checklists: Itemize all the items that are needed for a process.
- Process description: Describe the whole value chain step-by-step.
- Company policy: A detailed approach to defining everything from A-Z such as areas of responsibility, backup procedures, reviews and negotiations, work hours, and other house rules.
- Business manual: The most comprehensive documentation that describes how the business executes key tasks, branding and graphic rules, distribution channels, and other strategies.
Regardless of the type of documentation, it is important to have written guidelines to help standardize processes and make your business more professional. These processes and procedures help the business operate independently of the owner or founder.
#3 Continue to Improve Processes
Documenting business processes is not a one-time thing. Rather, you revisit and revise the processes over time to increase efficiency and improve. Alternatively, you may determine certain processes should be eliminated or others should be added.
Standard Business Processes Facilitate Growth
Creating standard business processes helps make your business more efficient and creates a platform for growth. Standard business processes make it easier to hire and train new employees while maintaining the key business processes that set your business apart and create value for the customer.
Getting Started with GrowthWheel
If you need help with professional business processes, the first step is connecting with a GrowthWheel Advisor. Mark Johnson, the Executive Director of the Technology Innovation Center, is a Certified GrowthWheel® Business Advisor.
Once you have connected with an advisor, he/she will send you a 360 screening. After completing the screening, your GrowthWheel Advisor will recommend decision sheets to help guide decision making and create a 30-60-90 action plan that outlines the decisions and timeline.
Send us a message today to get started!
Business Processes
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