Process Discovery & Analysis Flashcards
7 cards from real BPA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Process Discovery & Analysis flashcards as text
Which technique involves observing employees performing their tasks in real time to document how a process is actually executed?
Answer: Shadowing (direct observation)
Shadowing, or direct observation, involves watching employees perform their work to capture the true as-is process, including informal steps and workarounds not reflected in official documentation.
What is the primary goal of an 'as-is' process map in BPA?
Answer: To document the current state of a process before automation
An as-is process map captures how a process currently operates, providing the baseline needed to identify inefficiencies and design the future automated state.
Process mining tools derive process models primarily from which source?
Answer: Event logs from IT systems
Process mining extracts event logs recorded by ERP, CRM, or other IT systems to reconstruct actual process flows objectively and at scale.
Which of the following best describes a 'swim lane' diagram?
Answer: A diagram that shows process steps organized by the responsible party or system
Swim lane diagrams organize process steps into horizontal or vertical lanes, each representing a different role, department, or system, making handoffs and responsibilities clear.
What does the term 'process variant' mean in the context of process discovery?
Answer: An alternative path or deviation from the standard process flow
A process variant is a deviation or alternative path that occurs during execution, often discovered through process mining or interviews, and must be accounted for during automation design.
During process discovery workshops, why is it important to include both managers and frontline employees?
Answer: Because managers and frontline employees often have different views of how a process actually works
Managers often describe processes as they should work per policy, while frontline employees reveal how processes actually work, including workarounds and exceptions that impact automation design.
Which metric is most commonly used to measure the complexity of a process during the analysis phase?
Answer: Number of decision points (branching logic)
The number of decision points, or branching logic steps, in a process indicates its complexity, as more branches mean more rules to automate and a higher risk of edge cases.