processmanagement

Process management is the discipline of planning, organizing, executing, and optimizing processes to achieve desired outcomes. It is used in both information technology and business contexts to improve efficiency, quality, and compliance.

In IT, process management concerns the lifecycle of computational processes within an operating system, including creation, scheduling, synchronization, communication, and termination. The goal is to allocate CPU time and other resources fairly and efficiently, support multiprogramming, and ensure responsiveness and stability through scheduling algorithms and interprocess coordination.

In business, process management, often called business process management (BPM), focuses on end-to-end workflows across people, systems, and data. Core activities include process discovery, modeling, design, automation, execution, monitoring, and continuous improvement. Modeling is commonly done with standards such as BPMN, while automation is implemented by workflow engines and integration platforms. Process mining analyzes event data to reveal actual paths and bottlenecks, supporting objective optimization. Governance structures define ownership, standards, and change control.

Common methods include PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act), Six Sigma, and Lean principles. Benefits include greater consistency, transparency, faster cycle times, better compliance, and improved customer satisfaction. Challenges encompass process complexity, resistance to change, data quality, and the need for alignment across organizational units. Effective process management combines formal methods, appropriate tooling, and data-driven decision making to sustain continuous improvement.