Process design made simple — A human-centered approach to building better processes

Process design is often a daunting prospect. However, by applying tried and tested, human-centric methods we can drastically simplify and ultimately create better processes and efficiency.

Design sprints for processes

Process design should be approached in the same way as any other experience — by starting and finishing with those who will be using it. A particularly useful way to do this is to start with a design sprint workshop, but not in the traditional sense.

Start by mapping the current process end-to-end, the idea here is to get really granular and understand in as much detail as possible the current process ensuring all stakeholder needs and perspectives are accounted for.

Once we’ve got the big picture, it’s time to open up the floor to understand where different pain points exist within the current process according to varying stakeholders.

In my consulting work, I typically set up process design sprints like this:

1. Empathize with Stakeholders: Begin with an in-depth understanding of the users’ needs and challenges. Conduct interviews and observations to gather insights from all stakeholders involved in the process.