Prosessikehys

Prosessikehys, or process framework, is a structured construct used to organize, govern, and improve an organization's processes. It comprises a portfolio of processes, their interrelations, and the rules for their design, execution, measurement, and continual improvement. The goal is to achieve consistency, transparency, regulatory compliance, and alignment with strategic objectives.

A typical prosessikehys includes components such as a process catalog or portfolio, process maps or flow diagrams, defined process owners and stakeholders, standard operating procedures, performance metrics, and an improvement mechanism (for example PDCA). It also defines interfaces between processes and governance bodies responsible for oversight and decision making.

Implementation involves establishing governance structures and roles, creating common templates, adopting modelling methods (such as BPMN), and maintaining a central repository or toolset for documentation and version control. A successful framework requires clear ownership, change management, and ongoing communication across functions to ensure adoption and relevance.

Benefits of a prosessikehys include improved process efficiency and quality, easier onboarding and training, better risk management, and easier regulatory compliance through standardized controls and traceability. It supports cross-functional collaboration, enables measurement and benchmarking of process performance, and provides a basis for process redesign and optimization.

Context and relation to standards: prosessikehys is commonly used in Finnish-speaking and Norwegian-speaking organizations and in multinational companies that adopt a process-based management approach. It is related to, but not identical with, standards such as ISO 9001, ITIL, and COBIT, which can be implemented within a process framework.

Challenges include the upfront effort and ongoing maintenance required, potential rigidity if not designed for adaptability, and the need for executive sponsorship and effective change management.