What is the correct order of steps for Process Analysis?

• A. 1, 2, 3, 4
• B. 3, 1, 2, 4
• C. 1, 3, 4, 2
• D. 4, 1, 3, 2

Answer: (C)

In process analysis you begin by clarifying what you’re trying to achieve with the process—its purpose, scope, and boundaries. Once that’s defined, you create a map or documentation of the current workflow to see exactly how work flows, who performs each step, what data is used, and where handoffs occur. This current-state view is essential because you can’t improve what you don’t fully understand.

With a clear map in hand, you can identify where bottlenecks, redundancies, or non-value-added steps exist. That sets you up to analyze and propose targeted improvements, focusing on streamlining the flow, reducing delays, and removing waste. After designing changes, you implement them and then collect data to verify that the improvements actually yield the desired results and are sustainable.

This sequence—define the purpose, map the current process, analyze for improvements, and then measure the impact—best supports effective, data-driven process changes. Skipping mapping or validating changes without measurement tends to lead to missed root causes or unproven benefits, which is why this order is preferred.