Phase 1: Define – Determine How to Make Work Better

Once you’ve identified what processes need to be improved, the Define Phase brings everyone together around a shared understanding of what you’ll be working on, why it matters, how it will benefit the department, and the customers it serves.  By aligning on the opportunity for improvement from the start, you can stay focused, make better decisions, and ensure that every step of the process adds meaningful value.

• Bring in key voices early. Involve the people who know the work best and can help shape the future.
• Focus on possibilities. Be specific about what could be improved to make the process better.
• Set clear goals. Define what improvement success means and how you’ll measure it. (See more in the Measure Phase.)
• Recognize the value. Understand why the change matters and what makes it a true improvement.

Identifying Opportunities and Gaining Approval for Process Improvement Guide Template -helps you examine a process, identify what’s not working, and choose a small fix to try. It also gives you a simple way to explain the problem, why it matters, what you need, and what success looks like so leaders can easily support your improvement.

California Department of Technology (CDT) provides OD-related reference materials and tools that can be customized to meet your specific needs. Their services encompass a broad range of topics, including Business Process Reengineering (BPR), Organizational Change Management (OCM), Technology Consulting, and Project Management. For more in-depth guidance, including one-on-one consulting, reach out directly to CDT by filling out their Contact Form.

• Project Charter Template with Instructions – The Project Charter formally authorizes a project. It describes the business need for the project and the anticipated project results. It formalizes the existence of the project and provides the project with the authority to expend organizational resources to support project activities.