Syndicate
Recent Changes to 4TQ Applications
Recent changes include:
• Upgrade from Release 6 to Release 7 which is Word 12 and Vista compatible.
• Critical Checks capability in process map that enables listing on website as a critical procedure.
• Capability to colour value adding figures in 4TQFlow.
• Ability to designate the default path in a process chart.
• XML capability for Website.
• Includes RSS feed capability to notify amendments.
• Improved email facility to notify audits and also tasking capability in Outlook for audits and reviews
For compatibility with Word 12 you must have at least version 6.17.
Displaying Documents in the 4TQWebGen "Document Reference List"
To complete the fields for Document number (Reference in 4TQExplorer), Version, Status, and Next Review enter them for Word, PowerPoint, Excel and MSProjects as below.
For later versions of Acrobat:
Entering Outputs and Outcomes in the 4TQFlow Finish Figure
What is the difference between a process output and outcome?
Process
A process represents what an organizations does - work! It is a series of inter-related activities that transforms inputs such as materials and information into outputs and outcomes that have value for stakeholders.
Outputs and Outcomes
The process outputs can be considered to be a product or a result that is related in some way to the process inputs.
Outputs are measured before they emerge from the process whereas outcomes are the impact the processes have. For example, an outcome could be an impact on the business or an unforeseen impact on the environment. Let us take the budget process where the output is all the budget details entered into the financial management system. One of the outcomes is that resources are provided for the business to function effectively.
4TQFlow Example 
Managing Reviews / Audits of Policies and Forms in 4TQExplorer
Operational efficiency and risk management are critical in the current financial crisis
As the financial crisis unfolds, the implications for companies are becoming clearer. Companies need to:
- improve operational efficiency, and
- manage risk more effectively.
As the financial crisis unfolds, the implications for companies are becoming clearer. Companies need to:
- improve operational efficiency, and
- manage risk more effectively.
How can this be achieved? - by focusing on the critical processes in the business. Profitability can be improved and risk reduced and it does not require process redesign to achieve significant operational improvements.
Gartner claims that by "making the current-state handoffs, timings and responsibilities explicit, productivity improvements of more than 12 percent are normally realized." Business Process Management Success Hinges on Business-Led Initiatives, Gartner, 26July 2005. This can be achieved quickly and easily by simple process mapping. Risk is also reduced by a common understanding of processes, handoffs, timings and responsibilities.
Many organizations have documented, managed and improved their business processes by implementing formal process management systems. A study by Surrey University of 222 companies showed:
- profit margins - more than twice the industry average,
- return on capital employed (ROCE) - averaged more than double the industry average,
- sales per employee - 40 percent higher, and
- profit per employee - three times the industry average.
The first step is to quickly gain a common understanding of your key business processes through process mapping and identifying process simplification opportunities. Simplification can produce quick gains with minimum resources and upheaval to the business.
4TQToolKit Process Management software provides the tools for you to quickly and easily process map and simplify your operational processes.
For further information, go to
Welcome
The Axion Innovations blog was created to provide an online space for people to connect and talk about managing and improving business processes and 4TQ products. Whether you have used the 4TQ products, sell them, or are interested in learning more, you have come to the right place!
You can find videos about 4TQ, read articles written by experts, provide comments and submit articles, and even meet other 4TQ users! You can view and subscribe to a RSS Feed in the Syndicate window. To receive blog entries or entry comments via email please subscribe by entering your email address in the Subscribe window. For further information on 4TQ software, you can also go to
www.axioninnovations.com.au
Adding images to 4TQFlow process maps
The text tool in 4TQFlow can be used to display additional information regarding the process map. The information can be in text or small image form.
Add a text figure to the process map by accessing the text tool in the Toolbox menu or via the pop-up menu on the workspace. A dialogue box will appear allowing the insertion of a link to a picture file as shown in the example below. Step 1 in the process map has an action that requires the wearing of hearing protection. The hearing protection image is inserted by entering in c:\4tq\Images|PPE\EAR_52X52.BMP" in the field between the Picture and the Edit button and Save the file.
Only small images may displayed in the text figure. If the image does not appear in the text figure it may be too large. Text figure size can be changed by increasing the font size or the figure scale size say from 5 X 2 to 5 X 3 in Preferences.
Sample images are provided in the Images folder in the System Path. For further information contact Bob Digance at
www.axioninnovations.com.au
Text Image Example
Improving the performance of intranet sites made with 4TQWebGen
User acceptance of process information deployed using an internet site is dependent on the speed of accessing the information. There are a number of simple design rules that will speed up the site significantly.
Most clients use the Site_Index.htm file as the entry point to the web site. This utilizes the internal Java script of your computer and therefore speed is dependent on your computer’s resources processing capability.
Processing capability can be improved by:
· The number of items (4TQFlow process maps, documents, and forms) within a 4TQExplorer framework is the main determinant of processing speed. Use less than 40 items per categories.
· Keep the source file names and file paths as short as possible.
· Do not use the space character in file or folder names. Use the underscore character ( _ ) as a replacement.
· The site supports the use of multiple frameworks (4TQExplorer files) for the one main entry point (Site_Index.htm file). You are not restricted to just one framework, and splitting up a large framework into two or more smaller ones will make a significant difference to the speed of the site refresh.
About the Author
Bob Digance is a principal consultant with Axion Innovations specializing in business process management and improvement and the effective use of 4TQ business process management applications.
For further information go to www.axioninnovations.com.au
Formatting text in 4TQFlow
Text can be formatted and pictures files and hyperlinks can be inserted into text boxes in 4TQFlow by using format tags. The table lists the tags and the resulting actions that occur in MD Word and 4TQWebGen. The tags table is shown below.
Examples are provided in the attached 4TQFlow demonstration file TAGS_DMO.flw. Click on the link http://www.axioninnovations.com.au/TAGS_DMO.FLW to download or run the examples file.
4TQFlow Tags Table
Create 4TQFlow process maps with ease using 4TQScribe
4TQScribe helps you create process maps quickly and accurately from existing procedures or by using the “Brainstorm” mode to capture the process by listing the process steps. Either way 4TQscibe will automate the geneation of 4TQFlow process maps for you.
4TQScribe Video
Click on the following link http://www.axioninnovations.com.au/4TQscribe.htm to view a video on how to use 4TQScibe to reduce your process mapping time and improve process mapping effectiveness.
For further information go to www.axioninnovations.com.au
