What is a parallel process?
Shadow processes are tasks and workflows that are typically not formally tracked or controlled by the organization. They can be manual processes, undocumented activities, or informal practices that are not formally recognized or documented. Shadow processes can manifest within an organization’s operations or extend to interactions with customers and suppliers. They often introduce complexity into existing systems, create inefficiencies, and present potential security and compliance risks.
Businesses have long sought to understand the digital work landscape within their organization. A variety of methods have been used to achieve this, including process mapping consultants, flowcharting software, and task and process mining . However, many processes often remain undiscovered, representing the “dark side” of business operations. By confronting and integrating these hidden and repressed aspects, organizations can increase efficiency, improve compliance, and unlock their full potential.
How are alternative processes created?
There is always an ideal “happy path” for processes oman telephone number search to work. These processes are usually documented and described, such as the onboarding of a new colleague by HR or the monthly closing process by accounting. However, the ideal path does not always work as intended in reality. Deviations and workarounds can change the process from its initial design.
Shadow processes refer to hidden procedures that need to be completed but are not documented. These processes can overshadow the main workflow, introducing undocumented tasks and ad hoc work. For example, the accounts payable unit is responsible for processing invoices, but it often engages in many small tasks that are not specified anywhere to ensure the flow of work. As a result, the process becomes much more complex than it was initially.
These hidden processes can vary greatly. They can be minor adjustments within the core workflow or small deviations from assigned tasks that we inadvertently adopt. Hidden processes are often small procedures that we create over time without realizing it. Unfortunately, these procedures can quickly add up to a significant amount of time when you factor in all the variation within the team.
