Method
Different approaches can be used to classify processes:
• Top-down approach
• Bottom-up approach
Both approaches can be used simultaneously.
Top-down approach
To classify processes from the lowest to the finest level of detail, you can:
1. Define a Process Map and identify the main Process Categories by
• Identifying customers and the products or services delivered to them;
• Implementing Process Market Standard Frameworks such as APQC's Process Classification Framework.
2. Define the organization breakdown at the adequate level of detail (e.g. Department or Position level).
3. Identify Processes, describe their Operations and the Organizational units responsible for their execution.
Bottom-up approach
To classify Processes from the finest to the lowest level of detail, you can:
1. Identify and detail the processes carried out by the organization, for instance based on existing documentation, knowledge from experts or Process Mining from IT System's logs analysis.
2. Identify how Processes can be gathered into Process Categories.
3. Identify higher rank Process Categories and link them to a Process Map.