Processual: designing and managing processes
Processual is intended to design complex processes with many actors and materials, as well as to manage the actual processes in the organisation. Hence, the processes can be of type Procedure or Task. Both correspond to specific versions of Processual.
1 - Design; replacement of flowcharts and manuals
The classical way to store business processes is done with a flowchart program, often combined with a text editing program to detail on the processes. This method may be fit for smaller, more statical organisations, but for larger or more dynamic businesses this approach is insufficient. Firstly, the accessability and cohesion of these procedures is often limited. Secondly, it is impossible to get a quick survey of the procedures to be performed for a person in his/her specific role.
Processual on the other hand is a database out of which information can be extracted easily and customerially. Querying information by a persons function, for a certain scope or any other variable can be done. Also, procedural cohesion is assured, because all processes are interconnected in a 'treeview' structure.
Processual starts of from the classical process description, in which input materials are processed into output materials. So processes and materials are the most important data in designing the procedures. Processual gives theirby insight in all intermediate products between the phases of raw material and end product, enabling to choose the desired aggregational level.
The design functionality of Processual has been inspired by the practice of ISO certified quality systems. This concurs to the process focus of ISO 9000-2000.
2 - Task Management; multi-dimensional replacement
Traditionally, multiple methods are used to define strategy or policy, as wel as asigning tasks and resources. Most of these functions are integrated into Processual. Strategy and policy can be formulated as the higher levels in the process tree, while concrete, assigned actions make up the lower levels. The tasks that have a starting date, or have working time assigned to them, are shown in a Task List. This list also functions as a diary for all personal (of course filterable). Full resource planning is not (yet) supported.