Deployment flowchart
{{Short description|Business process mapping used to articulate the steps and stakeholders of a given process}}
File:Wikimedia development and deployment flowchart.png development and deployment flowchart, mainly refers to software deployment and IT infrastructure deployment]]
A deployment flowchart (sometimes referred to as a cross functional flowchart) is a business process mapping tool used to articulate the steps and stakeholders of a given process.
Structure
Deployment flowcharts consist of a sequence of activity steps, as well as the interactions between individuals or groups.The Leader's Handbook: Making Things Happen, Getting Things Done
By Peter R. Scholtes Each participant in the process is displayed on the map (which is constructed as a matrix) - tasks/activities are then articulated in sequence under the column corresponding to that stakeholder.
Uses
As deployment flowcharts highlight the relationships between stakeholders in addition to the process flowEssential Readings in Nursing Managed Care
By Susan Odegaard Turner, Aspen Reference Group (Aspen Publishers)
they are especially useful in highlighting areas of inefficiency, duplication or unnecessary processing.[http://leanyourcompany.com/methods/How-to-construct-a-deployment-flowchart.asp How to draw a deployment flowchart? - Leanyourcompany.com] Often utilized within Six sigma activity,Rath & Strong's Six Sigma Leadership Handbook By Rath & Strong, Thomas Bertels
completed flowcharts are commonly used to examine the interfaces between “participants” which are typically causes for delays and other associated issues. Deployment flowcharts are useful for determining who within an organization is required to implement a process and are sometimes used as a business planning tool.
Flowchart creation
While deployment flowcharts can be drawn by hand using pen and paper, various software tools include functionality to construct the flowcharts on computer. These include products such as Microsoft Visio.[http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/Visio/visio2000/maintain/iddepend.mspx Identify Cross-Department Dependencies with Microsoft Visio Flowcharts]
As with other process mapping techniques, deployment flowcharts require a certain degree of detail (and accuracy) to provide useful benefit. Care and attention is required to ensure that the correct stakeholder is attributed to the correct parts of the process. Complex flowcharts may be difficult to interpret, especially where a flow is unclear, or many stakeholders are identified. Consistent terminology throughout the map is also important to provide clarity to the reader.Flowcharts: Plain & Simple. By Joiner Assocs., Inc. Staff
See also
References
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