The manager wants to implement lean methodology to help streamline some of your team's HR work.

The challenge is that the team is new to lean, has never used a process mapping template, and has never performed process improvement or waste reduction this way. They aren't sure where to start!

All agree that it would be best to first try to apply lean methodology to a basic, non-work routine or process that you complete almost every day. Your rationale is that doing so will help you all to better understand the mapping process, find a template that works for you, and practice identifying process improvement opportunities.

They nominate you to be the first one to take on this task.

this task can be done using whatever format is easiest for you (Powerpoint, Excel, Google sheets etc.). Note, we have deliberately not provided one specific template to use. An important part of this exercise is reviewing the example templates (in the resources section below) and creating your own, just as you'd do when implementing this for the first time in a real HR/Lean environment.

1. Learn about Lean
   1. Before any diagraming, develop your understanding of Lean by reading through the Lean Training deck. You can also look at the Lean Cheat Sheet for more detail, and use the Lean Glossary to help fill in the gaps on any terms you don't understand.
   2. Think about a routine or multi-step process you perform on a daily basis. This doesn't have to be work-relatedin fact, it's best if it's something simple, like for example your routine for making coffee. The important thing is that there are multiple steps and that you are very familiar with it.
2. Make a process map
   1. Look at the templates one by one. Decide which one would be most applicable to the process you've chosen.
   2. map of your routine/multi-step process using your tool of choice (Excel, Powerpoint, Google sheets) and the template you've chosen.
3. Identify wastes and process improvement opportunities
   1. Use map to identify wastes in your process. Write these wastes on the map.
   2. Use map to identify ways you can improve the process. Write these improvement opportunities on the map.