As compared to a one-person development process, the diverse skill set of a Business Management System (BMS) process development team has advantages in problem solving, creativity, functionality, quality and efficiency. The team environment fosters collaboration, brainstorming, mutual support and better communication. In my experience, individuals developing a process do not produce the necessary level of results which are achieved in a team environment.
A BMS is the documented process of business and technical planning, and execution. BMS topical areas include: sales, procurement, accounting, operations, engineering, service, manufacturing, project management, document control, quality assurance, HSSE and others. BMS processes generate, manage and/or support product or service revenue generation.
Company owners, key employees, experienced 3rd parties or any combination of subject matter experts (SMEs), develop and manage the BMS process workflow. Effective process control requires application and management of these highly specialized personnel to carefully plan, document, communicate and oversee execution of the process.
Each SME of the BMS process development team has specialized knowledge. The glue that bonds this specialized knowledge set into useable information is effective communication. Recipients or end users of process communication may not have the same subject matter knowledge as the process developers.
Instructional and explanatory process communication tools such as documentation, videos, drawings, etc., must be in an easy to understand form while at the same time conveying the SME’s specialized information. The BMS process development team must consider challenges in knowledge communication development. These challenges include:
– Content Organization
– Clear and concise writing style, regardless of the number of SMEs
– Structure for intended audience
– Objective oriented, without slang, impersonal, and factual
– Correct grammar, spelling and punctuation
– Avoidance of jargon, clichés, verbosity, redundancy and outdated phraseology
– Document formatting and layout (look and feel)
– Application of writing standards
A good technical writer is an invaluable member of the BMS process development team and is able to structure the SME’s knowledge in an effective manner.
If you would like more information or need help with BMS process development or technical writing support, contact the author at [email protected].
