From the Ask Tom mailbag:
What’s the difference between a process and a system?
A process is the way we get something done. A process is a shift from the haphazard, often the backbone of a discipline or a set of instructions. A process can take the form of a checklist, often has an order or sequence to its steps, like do this first, then do that.
A system is more robust than a process. A system has a defined start and a finish. A system also has a series of steps, but there are different relationships between the steps. In a system, some steps can be done at the same time (concurrent steps). Some steps depend on other steps to be completed first, before the current step can begin (dependent steps). Some steps run at different speeds and can bottleneck other steps (constraints). Some steps may only be required under specific conditions (conditional steps). Some steps may loop back to previous steps and repeat (iterative steps). A system looks at specific conditions, finds the similarities and, by treating them the same, produces a consistent outcome. A system looks at specific conditions, finds the differences and, by treating them differently accommodates a range of variables.
Looking at levels of work, a process may more accurately be used at S-II, while a system is more likely required at S-III.
Kutoka Ask Tom mailbag: Ni nini tofauti kati ya mchakato na mfumo? Mchakato ni njia tunayofanya kitu kifanywe. Mchakato ni mabadiliko kutoka random, mara nyingi uti wa mgongo wa nidhamu au seti ya maelekezo. Mchakato unaweza kuchukua fomu ya orodha ya kuangalia, mara nyingi ina utaratibu au mfululizo wa hatua zake, kama kufanya hii kwanza, kisha kufanya kwamba. Mfumo ni imara zaidi kuliko mchakato. Mfumo una mwanzo na mwisho uliofafanuliwa. Mfumo pia una mfululizo wa hatua, lakini kuna mahusiano tofauti kati ya hatua. Katika mfumo, baadhi ya hatua inaweza kufanyika kwa wakati mmoja (hatua sambamba). Baadhi ya hatua hutegemea hatua nyingine za kukamilika kwanza, kabla ya hatua ya sasa inaweza kuanza (hatua tegemezi). Baadhi ya hatua kukimbia kwa kasi tofauti na inaweza bottleneck hatua nyingine (vizuizi). Baadhi ya hatua inaweza tu kuwa required chini ya hali maalum (hatua masharti). Baadhi ya hatua inaweza loop nyuma kwa hatua za awali na kurudia (hatua iterative). Mfumo huangalia hali maalum, hupata kufanana na, kwa kuzitendea sawa, hutoa matokeo thabiti. Mfumo inaangalia hali maalum, hupata tofauti na, kwa kuwatendea tofauti inakaribisha mbalimbali ya vigezo. Kwa kuzingatia viwango vya kazi, mchakato unaweza kutumika kwa usahihi zaidi katika S-II, wakati mfumo unahitajika zaidi katika S-III.