Prosessen

Prosessen is a term used in Norwegian to denote a series of actions or steps taken to achieve a particular result. It is a broad concept that appears in many fields, including business, science, engineering, law, and public administration. A process typically involves inputs, activities, outputs, and some form of feedback or controls that influence performance.

In practice, processes are described and analyzed to improve clarity, repeatability, and efficiency. Common representations include flowcharts and process models such as BPMN. Key aims of process work are to define how work should be done, establish responsibilities, and enable measurement and control. Process design often involves mapping the current state (as-is) and envisioning a desired future state (to-be). Improvement methods, such as PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) and Six Sigma (DMAIC), focus on reducing waste, variation, and bottlenecks while increasing quality and reliability. Digital tools support automation, data collection, and process mining to uncover optimization opportunities.

Different domains place emphasis on different aspects of the process. Business processes cover everyday operations like order fulfillment, procurement, and onboarding of new employees. Manufacturing processes describe the transformation of raw materials into finished goods, with attention to throughput and quality. Scientific processes involve hypothesis formulation, experimentation, observation, and analysis, typically iterative and evidence-based. Legal and procedural processes include steps from filing to adjudication, guided by rules of due process.

Effective process management strives for predictable results, traceability, and adaptability to changing conditions, balancing efficiency with compliance and quality.