What is the point of process mapping?

To make the invisible visible. Most work follows a path nobody has written down, so the friction and rework stay hidden until you map it.

Should I map the current or the ideal process?

The current, real one first. You cannot improve a process reliably until you can see how it actually works today.

← Glossary

Operations & process

Process Mapping

Also known as: process flow mapping

Process mapping is documenting the actual steps a piece of work goes through from start to finish, including the handoffs, decisions, and points where it stalls.

Key takeaways

Process mapping documents the actual steps work goes through, including handoffs and stalls.
Map what really happens, not the idealised version; the gap is where problems live.
It is the first step to improving a process.

Process mapping makes the invisible visible. Most work follows a path nobody has ever written down, so the friction, the rework loops, and the places things fall between people stay hidden. Mapping the real current state, not the idealised one, is the first step to improving it.

The value is in mapping what actually happens, not what is supposed to. The gap between the two is usually where the problems live. Mapping feeds directly into process redesign.

Commonly confused with

Process redesign

Mapping documents how work flows now. Redesign reworks it. Mapping usually comes first.

Frequently asked

What is the point of process mapping?: To make the invisible visible. Most work follows a path nobody has written down, so the friction and rework stay hidden until you map it.
Should I map the current or the ideal process?: The current, real one first. You cannot improve a process reliably until you can see how it actually works today.

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