Process mapping is often the first step in business process improvement.  It is a necessary activity that provides a baseline from which improvements can be measured and is the key to identifying and localizing opportunities for improvement.   Therefore it is important that facilitators capture the right information to help steer process improvement initiatives in the right direction. 

Facilitators must possess the ability to lead (steer the direction of meetings), manage people (deal with conflicts and diversions), and persuade participants to open up and share the knowledge they possess to have successful mapping sessions.  This can be challenging when dealing with large groups and complicated processes.  Following the guidelines outlined in this article can help to ensure that you have a successful process mapping session.    

The Four Agreements You Need to Have a Successful Process Mapping Session
Process mapping is a group exercise in which teams of subject matter experts (SMEs) gather to determine how work gets done.  Step-by-step diagrams are drawn to document the who, what, when and how a business task is performed.  Teams utilize process mapping as a way of finding opportunities for improvement, increasing transparency between groups, and understanding the roles of systems in processes.