Buffer external information and subscribe to updates
Instead of requesting information from an external source, buffer it and subscribe to updates
Reijers, H., & Liman Mansar, S. (2005). Best practices in business process redesign: an overview and qualitative evaluation of successful redesign heuristics. Omega, 33(4)
Obtaining information from other parties is a major, time consuming part in many workflows. By having information directly available when it is required, throughput times may be substantially reduced. Note that this buffering is a weak form of the integration pattern. Instead of direct access to the original source of information in the integration alternative a copy is maintained.
This pattern can be compared to the caching principle microprocessors apply. Of course, the subscription fee for information updates may be rather costly. This is especially so when we consider the situation that an information source may contain far more information than is ever used. Substantial cost may also be involved with storing all the information.
Foundational free Patterns
Consider automating activities
Combine small activities into composite activities
Let workers perform as many steps as possible for single cases
Form cross-department teams for end-to-end case handling.
Delegate and optimize your operations
Consider the division of a general activity into two or more alternative activities
Assign tasks based on resources' roles in the organisation
Performance-based task assignment
Allocate tasks based on past performance: execution time and success
Allocate task based on past feedback or quality metrics