Start with one real request
Pick a request your team finished not long ago. Do not write how the work should go. A real request shows the emails, talks, work done twice, and special cases that a simple chart may miss.
Start when someone asks for help. Stop when that person gets the result, the work is saved, or the next person says they have it.
- What starts the work?
- How do you know the work is done?
- What facts or files do you need at the start?
Watch when the work changes hands
One person can finish a step while the whole job still waits. Mark each time the work moves to a new person, team, or tool.
Each time it moves, ask: What must move with it? Who does the next step? How do they know it is ready? The answers show where work gets slow or hard to track.
Write down each choice and special case
Most jobs have a usual path. Some do not. Mark each choice that changes the steps. Mark each sign-off that makes the work wait. Mark each special case that needs more help.
This keeps the map honest. It shows the hard parts that a neat chart can hide.
Pick one result to check
Pick one thing that should get better. You may want a faster reply, less typing, a clear next person, fewer missed follow-ups, or an easy way to see where work stands.
Use that result to pick the next step. You may need clearer steps, better use of a tool you have, or a tool that does a repeat step for you.