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What Are Current State Assessments & How

Should Organizations Conduct Them?

Process frameworks like APQC's Process Classification Framework (PCF)® can be used for
an array of applications, ranging from understanding an organization's current state
(or “as is” processes) to measurement and performance management. Leveraging frameworks for
current state assessments is especially beneficial because it helps save time and improve
communications.

This infographic explores what a current state assessment is and the three main approaches
organizations take in conducting them.

What is a Current State Assessment?

A current state assessment helps an organization understand where it is before planning its future state and
know what resources it needs to progress.
Additionally, organizations conduct current state process assessments to:

Identify gaps or Understand Determine the

redundant process relationship of
processes variations business
processes to IT
systems

Assess the Engage

performance and employees in
value of process
processes activities

In other words, assessing the current state provides a baseline for process improvements and performance management, as well as
engages employees to think in process terms.

3 Approaches to Current State Assessments

Methods for assessing the current state of an organization's processes include surveys, interviews, and workshops. The method applied depends
on the amount of performance information available, business process maturity, and the amount of employee engagement that is
necessary.
Best-practice organizations match the type of current state assessment to their process management maturity and needs regarding
employee engagement.

Survey Approach A survey

approach involves assessing the current state of processes in a standardized manner that lends itself to
comparative analysis—among regions and business lines—and objective decision making on prioritization
and next steps. A survey approach involves four process steps:

STEP 1: STEP 2: STEP 3: STEP 4:

Design Collect Analyze Prioritize
the Tool Data and report and plan

Interview Approach
An interview approach provides an opportunity to capture a wide array of relevant information and engage
employees in the process by asking for their opinions and advice. There are four main steps to using
interviews to assess the current state:

STEP 1: STEP 2: STEP 3: STEP 4:

Develop conduct Collate Prioritize
Questionnaire Interviews Information and plan

Workshop Approach A current state

assessment is typically only one component of a workshop focused on broader process discovery or
improvement work. Often, workshops will combine a current state assessment with process mapping
and future state development strategies.

STEP 1: STEP 2: STEP 3: STEP 4:

Collect Assess Determine Prioritize
Information Current State Future State and plan

Although these three approaches are outlined individually, they are most often conducted in concert. Organizations can reap a better
understanding of their current state and even take strides toward meeting their future state by using a combination of the approaches outlined above.

For more information on each approach, see

Conduct a Current State Assessment: How to Use a Process Classification Framework.