What is Enterprise Work Management? Its Benefits and Types

All kinds of businesses and even individuals working in an organization always deal with at least one workflow.

For a restaurant selling just one dish, the process of selling this dish is a workflow. In this example, how fast this restaurant can serve this dish while maintaining consistency in quality will dictate the restaurant’s success.

However, in an enterprise setting, we typically deal with multiple workflows that are connected. Not to mention, an enterprise typically involves a complex bureaucracy and ensuring the efficiency of all these workflows can be very challenging.

This is where enterprise work management comes in.

What Is Enterprise Work Management?

Enterprise Work Management (EWM), also often called Enterprise Workflow management, is the effort of identifying, documenting/mapping, analyzing, and optimizing workflow(s) on an enterprise-wide scale.

However, the term “enterprise workflow management” is frequently used to refer to the enterprise work management software that facilitates us in executing the EWM process.

To understand the concept of EWM, we have first to discuss the definition of a workflow.

We can define a workflow as a set of actions (tasks) typically executed sequentially and will achieve a specific purpose or objective when accomplished.

Different Types of Enterprise Workflows

In an enterprise setting, however, there are 3 different types of workflows, they are:

1. Process workflow

A “process” or “business process” is a workflow with predictable steps and is repeatable. We say a workflow is repeatable in the sense that when given the same input, the workflow will produce the same results over and over again or at least with minimal variations.

In an enterprise, reimbursement approval is a typical example of a process workflow.

2. Project workflow

A project workflow has predictable steps (we know what to do after the current step has been done), but it’s typically non-repeatable. Two projects in an enterprise are not exactly the same, but we can use some elements of a project workflow when starting a new project.

In an enterprise environment, designing a new product is an example of a project workflow.

3. Case workflow

A case workflow is non-repeatable and the steps are non-predictable. The tasks or steps required to fulfill the workflow are not known at first, only after more information has been gathered that we can figure out the next step.

Handling a customer complaint is an example of case workflow.

Enterprise Work Management: The Concept

As discussed, Enterprise Work Management is about optimizing workflows in an enterprise so that all of these workflows are as efficient as possible.

In practice, EWM is executed in five different phases or stages:

1. Identifying and listing workflows

In an enterprise setting that includes many different teams, departments, and stakeholders, identifying all the workflows can be challenging. However, the first and arguably the most crucial phase of workflow management is to identify and list all these workflows.

Another concern of this phase is prioritizing which workflows you will optimize first in the following phases.

2. Mapping and documenting workflows

The next phase of Enterprise Work Management is to visualize your workflows as a workflow diagram and document them.

Mapping and documenting a workflow essentially enables two things:

• Standardization: allowing different stakeholders in the enterprise to have the same vision about how to execute the workflow.
• Analysis: accurate visualization of the workflow will allow us to analyze the workflow for inefficiencies, as we’ll discuss in the next phase

3. Enterprise workflow analysis

As mentioned, once the workflow has been visually mapped and documented, the enterprise can start analyzing the workflow diagram to identify bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and other areas that can get improved.

Based on the analysis’s results, the goal is to develop a comprehensive plan to optimize the workflow in the next phase.

4. Workflow optimization

The goal of this phase is to implement the changes we’ve planned as a result of the workflow analysis process.

Optimization is achieved by reducing or eliminating inefficiencies and bottlenecks. Still, if necessary and viable, enterprises can also automate parts of the whole workflow to improve the workflow’s efficiency further while also improving consistency.

5. Evaluation and re-optimization

It’s crucial to embrace that Enterprise Work Management is not a one-off thing but rather a regular and consistent effort. Even after optimization has been implemented, the execution of the workflow must be continuously monitored and evaluated.

Workflows that are already efficient and optimal at the moment might no longer be optimal next year or even next month. This is why EWM is also a continuous process, and we should involve stakeholders and ask them to provide feedback about the workflow’s performance regularly.

Benefits of Enterprise Work Management

Correct implementation of Enterprise Work Management will allow the following benefits:

1. Improved efficiency and productivity

A key benefit of implementing EWM is that it enables the enterprise to accurately map and analyze workflows to find inefficiencies and bottlenecks and improve upon them.

With proper implementation of Enterprise Work Management, workflows are accurately mapped, documented, analyzed, optimized, and even automated to ensure they are as efficient as possible. Efficient and optimal workflows will ultimately translate into a more productive enterprise.

2. Standardized execution to reduce human errors

Enterprise workflow management enables standardization of workflows to reduce confusion between different stakeholders, facilitating consistency and accuracy. In the long run, this can reduce the possibility of human errors in each workflow and even each task.

On the other hand, when unavoidable errors happen, we can more easily trace back the cause of the mistakes with an accurate workflow diagram.

3. Better enterprise agility

When workflows get correctly mapped and documented, it’s much easier for the enterprise to implement changes and remain agile. With a proper EWM solution like Aproove, the workflow diagram can also be updated along with the implemented changes quickly.

Conclusion

Enterprise work management is now necessary for all enterprises looking to improve their efficiency and productivity. An Enterprise workflow management (EWM) solution like Approve allows enterprises to identify, document, analyze, and optimize all workflows to ensure they are as efficient as possible.