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Tag Archive 'computing group'

TaskMap Update: version 4.0.5

Posted in Law Processes, Process Analysis, Process Improvement, Process Mapping, Project Management, Uncategorized on Dec 7th, 2011

  Harvard Computing Group is pleased to announce the general availability of TaskMap 4.0.5, a minor update to the very successful release of TaskMap 4. We recommend that all current TaskMap 4 users update their copies of TaskMap to take advantage of this interim release. TaskMap 4.0.5 includes a number of fixes that will improve [...]

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Happy Thanksgiving

Posted in Uncategorized on Nov 23rd, 2011

Thanksgiving is a holiday I have come to cherish since moving to the USA in 1984. A time to renew and enjoy family time together, regardless of religion, race or location. We hope that all families savor this time, and perhaps even take that extra step to forgive someone in your family that needs to [...]

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Additional Dates Added for the Simplified Process Mapping Webinar

Posted in Process Mapping on Aug 23rd, 2011

Dozens of people attended the Simplified Process Mapping webcasts we conducted in early August so Harvard Computing Group is planning two additional presentations in the next several weeks. These one-hour seminars describe the challenges associated with capturing process knowledge and producing good process maps. You will learn about a simple, yet effective technique for understanding [...]

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Simplified Process Mapping Seminar makes its summer comeback

Posted in Process Mapping on Jul 18th, 2011

If you are looking for a break from your summer routine, consider attending one of Harvard Computing Group’s popular Simplified Process Mapping webcasts in early August. These one-hour seminars describe the challenges associated with capturing process knowledge and producing good process maps. You will learn about a simple, yet effective technique for understanding and documenting [...]

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Introducing SOX-Expert TaskMap Edition

Posted in Change Management, Process Analysis, Project Management on Jun 9th, 2011

Harvard Computing Group Releases SOX Compliance Solution Linking Best Practices and SOX Process Maps After many months of development and testing, we are pleased to announce the release of our latest vertical solution for SOX compliance applications. Our partner SOX XPRESS, LLC, is a long time provider of SOX software and consulting. If you like [...]

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Visio 2010 Step by Step: Scott Helmers releases new book

Posted in Process Discovery, Process Mapping on Apr 18th, 2011

Scott Helmers from Harvard Computing Group is one of the leading Visio experts in the world, as evidenced by his three consecutive awards as a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) for Visio. Microsoft Press has just published Scott’s new book: Visio 2010 Step by Step. The Step by Step series is renowned for conveying knowledge [...]

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How BPM stages relate to Critical Thinking

Posted in Change Management, Process Analysis, Process Improvement, Process Mapping on Feb 10th, 2011

Critical Thinking is relates to BPM in several steps of the process. These include: Critical Thinking factor and activity Where it fits in a BPM process More accurate and complete information Process Discovery and Documentation Freedom from coercion and distorting self-deception Brainstorming, Goal and Objective setting Openness to alternatives points of view: empathy and concern [...]

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Critical Thinking and Process Improvement

Posted in Change Management, Process Discovery, Process Improvement on Feb 9th, 2011

Having spent most of my professional career trying to change things for organizations, and a proponent of Best Practices to ensure that happens, the application of Critical Thinking to these challenges should be of interest to us all. In process improvement we often focus on a few steps to ensure we get a result. At [...]

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Documenting sales cycles-How to improve your business operations

Posted in Process Improvement, Process Mapping, Project Management on Jan 18th, 2011

Improving sales processes One of the most popular uses of process mapping software is the communication of sales cycles. Ensuring a common and consistent sales and forecasting process is an essential ingredient to a successful business. I the example below, some best practices have been provided by Salesforce.com and Harvard Computing Group to illustrate how [...]

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Using process maps to communicate emergency procedures

Posted in Process Mapping, Project Management on Jan 16th, 2011

Most organizations have to have a plan to communicate emergency procedures. Sometimes this is done by HR on a regular basis, in other cases facilities management or other dedicated groups do the work. This information needs to be kept current and process maps are a great way of communicating the most up to date versions. [...]

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Simplified Process Mapping-Managing Processes

Posted in Change Management, Process Improvement, Project Management on Jan 4th, 2011

The management of processes is a process in itself. The first step for the Project Manager, Business Analysts and the Subject Matter Experts is to develop the roll-out plan for the new processes, taking all the input materials from the previous stages. Once the plan is complete, complete the communication and training plan using: Newly [...]

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Process Mapping-Communication doesn’t have to be boring

Posted in Process Discovery, Process Mapping on Jan 1st, 2011

  Teaching kids to learn to ski. Courtesy Mike Cunningham and Harvard Computing Group As the above example shows, creating process maps does not have to be boring. By adding the following elements your maps can be more interesting, informative and in this case fun. If you click on the image above you will see [...]

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Process Analysis–Goals and objectives

Posted in Change Management, Process Analysis on Dec 13th, 2010

For many organizations their goals and objectives are fulfilled once they complete the review process and the Process Capture project stops at that point. For others it is important to move beyond the basic process documents and analyze the data collected and documents. In working with many organizations over 20 years, a good strategy with [...]

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Approaches to Process Mapping-The flowchart basics

Posted in Change Management, Process Mapping on Nov 24th, 2010

The flowchart is the third and final approach to modeling processes. In many ways meeting the best of the narrative and step-by-step approaches, but adding “the big picture” to the equation. Flowcharts are visual in nature, and regardless of the details, all make the task (sometimes call a process or activity) the core element. A [...]

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Documenting Processes- Step by step approach

Posted in Process Discovery, Process Mapping on Nov 23rd, 2010

  Another approach to documenting processes is the step by step model. Instructive in nature, it will guide the reader through each step. Most steps represent an individual task and describes the outcome. The step by step approach has been with us for many centuries and used in conjunction with illustrations can really make the [...]

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Process discovery–Summary

Posted in Change Management, Process Discovery, Process Mapping on Nov 21st, 2010

Regardless of the knowledge capture techniques employed, the overall goal of knowledge capture is to learn key details about a process including: Roles of the people involved (both inside and outside the organization) Tasks that make up the process Guidelines, business rules, instructions, and policies Resources, materials, data sources, applications, and other tools Timing and [...]

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  • Recent Posts

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    • THE CASE FOR PROCESS DASHBOARDS
    • Is 2012 the year that version control finally takes hold?
    • How to listen carefully to your team–Reflective listening skills overview (Part 8)
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    • How to listen carefully to your team–Reflective listening skills overview (Part 3)
    • How to listen carefully to your team–Reflective listening skills overview (Part 2)
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    • TaskMap Update: version 4.0.5
    • BPM BLOG Summary for week ending 2 December 2011
    • The Tutorials are coming … the tutorials are coming
    • The psychology of spending and how it can help BPM ;-)
    • Happy Thanksgiving
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    • Processes as instruction tools
    • BPM Blog Weekly summary 11.18.2011 with video blog
    • Project and Processes (responses to the questions)
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    • Happy 11.11.11 and BPM Blog summary
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    • Happy Anniversary BPM Blog: A good first milestone
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    • BPM Blog summary for week ending 28 October 2011
    • Customized process mapping
    • Agile methodology: The case for a blended Agile
    • Additional displays: Are they worth the money?
    • BPM Blog summary week ending 21 October 2011
    • Thoughts matter: How thoughts affect our actions in everyday life
    • BPM Summary of automated tutorials on the TaskMap menu
    • Automated tutorial—Save as process folder
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    • Check my TaskMap
    • BPM Blog summary week ending 7 October 2011
    • Renumbering Tasks in TaskMap
    • Customizing roles names in TaskMap
    • Adding tasks to a Page–add task to page Dialog
    • How to add tasks to pages using the auto connect feature in TaskMap
    • BPM Blog Summary Week ending 30 September 2011
    • Towards Perfection
    • BPM in the Legal Profession
    • BPM BLOG SITE MAP
    • Rigor and our business processes
    • BPM Summary Week ending 23 September 2011. The Case for a Blended Agile
    • The Case for a Blended Agile: Part 4-Agile Stepping Stones Approach
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