Top tips for IT managers to effectively handle process management

Most IT managers would want to solve problems and improve productivity as far as process improvement is concerned, since IT managers realize that errors can be costly and also hamper profit stream in the enterprise. So while some enterprises may think that picking up competent employees is enough to ensure that errors and mistakes are minimized, unfortunately every enterprise has limitations as far as ensuring only the best people are entrusted with jobs within the enterprise. What these IT managers require is a system that helps move people and processes in the right time and right manner. Process improvement can definitely help define workflow and is reliable and adaptable to meet and surpass challenges that are thrown up in every evolving business environment. Here are a few tips that could prove useful for IT department heads:

• Traceability is the key

IT managers need to realize that defect tracking systems are essential and not just in helping track problems, but also to provide the guidance to ensure proper product support and maintenance for every enterprise. IT managers thus need to maximize their defect tracking systems. IT department heads require systems that allow them to specify and implement workflows according to their envisioned business needs. This further assists them in tracking and enforcing compliance with their IT service management processes. Thus IT managers can be rest assured since they will be able to define agile processes and implement them in a matter of few hours.

• Identifying essential processes

Repetitive errors are a problem issue for IT departments across different enterprises. If the same errors keep occurring, then it is a clear indication that a repeatable process needs to be defined clearly. So while some enterprises train a well-qualified backup who can easily record the process steps and use them as a foundation for a process model. This can be further formally inputted into a workflow solution. Once that is done, it can allow other resources besides your expert to diagnose and resolve problems and also ensures continuous traceability into problems and challenges that confronts your enterprise.

• Defining goals for ever process

Processes may be designed for different situations yet goals for every process must be clearly defined. This allows IT heads to check and see if the goals have been met.

• Process improvement

Every process needs to be defined according to its task, role and responsibility. Therefore every process definition must necessarily include things like tasks, roles and responsibilities, task flows, decision points, approvals etc.

Capturing the execution of the process provides the visibility that every IT team requires to make the right decisions and confirm that processes, once established, are then followed on a reliable and repeatable basis. Workflow history logs and reports provide senior management the visibility needed in order to make important decisions and support solid IT Governance. This would ensure that IT managers make use of process management to their best advantage.

Read More about at IT service management Wikipedia.

Also read about Application lifecycle management here.