Combine activities
Combine small activities into composite activities
A technique for combining smaller tasks into larger ones to reduce setup times and improve the quality of work.
Reijers, H., & Liman Mansar, S. (2005). Best practices in business process redesign: an overview and qualitative evaluation of successful redesign heuristics. Omega, 33(4)
Description
Task Combination is a process optimization technique that involves combining smaller tasks into larger ones. This technique reduces setup times, which are the time that resources need to become familiar with the specifics of a case, and can improve the quality of work. However, it is important to strike a balance between the size of the tasks and their workability. Tasks that are too large can result in smaller run-time flexibility and lower quality. Smaller tasks, on the other hand, can result in longer setup times.
Performance considerations
By finding the optimal balance, organizations can achieve the best of both worlds: shorter setup times, higher quality, and greater flexibility.
Share this pattern
Enjoy these
Foundational free Patterns
Assign a responsible individual for handling each case type
Empower workers for more decision-making authority
Consider whether activities may be executed in parallel
Consider the division of a general activity into two or more alternative activities
Let products appear greener
Explore whether a process can easily be used for additional products or services
Workload-based task assignment
Allocate tasks based on individuals' incomplete workload
Experience-based task assignment
Delegate task according to experience: execution frequency, case involvement, interactions
Allocate task based on collaborative experience: handover time, interactions, diversity
Share this
Connected to
Consider the division of a general activity into two or more alternative activities
Collect similar work items and work in batches