Mapping Workflows: Challenges and Opportunities

Registrants will receive viewing information before the conference.

Understanding existing workflows is a first step towards improving the efficiency and effectiveness of technical services operations. Knowing who does what, when work is completed, and how people complete tasks provide a framework to facilitate discussions and planning activities. Whether troubleshooting pain points in a process, seeking automations to save time, or preparing for staff loss or restructuring, mapping workflows provides a visual tool to guide the process. This presentation will discuss reasons for mapping workflows, detail the process of creating workflow maps, identify common difficulties encountered during the process, and offer suggestions for overcoming barriers to developing a comprehensive picture (and understanding) of your processes. While specific library management systems may be used in examples, the presentation will focus on broadly applicable principles and methods.