Future State Process

process mapping

Lean Resources

Detective Columbo

I keep six honest serving men.

They taught me all I knew.

Their names are What and Why and When and Where and How and Who.

-Rudyard Kipling

Once an improvement team has developed their "Present State" and "Ideal State" maps, they usually have a deep understanding of the process and the opportunities. Often, they identify problems and find solutions with only informal discussion.

However, when a team becomes stuck, Brainstorming or the "Columbo" approach stimulates solutions.

When a solution is found, create a "Future State" map to define the new process and compare it to the "Present State." as in this example.

Brainstorming

Brainstorm Groups

Group brainstorming uses the experience and creativity of all members. When individual members reach their limit, another member can take the idea to the next stage.

But, brainstorming in a group can be risky for individuals. Valuable but strange suggestions may appear stupid at first. The facilitator ensures that others do not crush ideas.

Participants should come from a wide range of disciplines. This brings broad experience and increases creativity. Appoint one person to note ideas on a flip chart. Study and evaluate after the session.

Facilitation Procedure

►Define the problem clearly and identify any criteria to be met.

►Stay focused on the problem

►Ensure that no one criticizes or evaluates ideas during the session.

►Encourage an enthusiastic, uncritical attitude in the group. Try to get everyone to contribute, including the quiet members

►Let people have fun.

►Encourage people to raise as many ideas as possible, from solidly practical to wildly impractical.

►Welcome creativity.

►Ensure that no train of thought is followed for too long

►Encourage people to develop other's ideas or use other ideas to create new ones

The Columbo Approach

Detective Columbo always scratched his head and asked a lot of questions. A good mapping facilitator does the same. Below is a formal list of questions that could be applied to every element. Good facilitators often know where the critical issues lie and direct questions accordingly. Alan Mogensen, the originator of "Work Simplification", called this "the questioning attitude."

This table also shows which types of events the question is most likely to apply to and common strategies that result from the answers.

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Key Questions

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Other Process Mapping Topics

The How-To of Process Mapping
Facilitating A Mapping Team
Process Mapping Example
Information Flow Example
Future State Process
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