A comparative study on tools for mapping activities performed by consumers in service processes

Abstract

The objective of this article is to explore the potential application of mapping tools to build process maps that bring into view the activities performed by consumers in service processes. The article addresses a set of tools, namely, SIPOC, Flowchart, Blueprint, Process-Chain-Network, Consumption Map, SERVPRO, and Activity Chart, exemplifying their application in the building of maps that offer different visions for an online shopping process undertaking the approach of hierarchical decomposition in the analysis of a consumer’s activities flow. These tools are analyzed with regard to their capacity to represent the different aspects of the mapped process, considering characteristics such as the graphic representation form and the focal points, scope, and granularity of the visualization they provide. Finally, a comparative evaluation of the informative capacity of these tools is presented, which highlights the distinct attributes of each one.

Keywords
Process mapping; Service operations management; Service; Customer