Re: What is the difference between 'inputs' and 'resources' in the context of a proce
A process is defined as
"An activity or set of activities using resources, and managed in order to enable the transformation of inputs into outputs, can be considered as a process."
It means any process essentially consumes resources in order to transform inputs into outputs.
What's the difference between 'inputs' and 'resources'? Are 'resources' not 'inputs'?
Appreciate your comments preferably with a few examples.
Thanks
I wish that more people would question this! The definition you quote is from ISO9001. Yet a number of other definitions of a “process” found on the Internet suggest that the definition is flawed:
- “A series of actions, changes, or functions bringing about a result”
- “A series of inter-related activities that result in an outcome”
- “A generic method of doing something, involving steps or operations which are usually ordered and/or interdependent”
- “A collection of interrelated tasks, which solve a particular issue”
- “A series of events that produce change or development”.
None mentions a "transformation", and all either mention or at least imply i) a trigger event and ii) an objective. And "resources" aren't mentioned either - perhaps they are not essential as part of the definition, but rather a (helpful) note of explanation.
If you apply the ISO9001 definition, then every input must be changed into another form by the process, and so would not be available the next time the process operates.
And processes happen whether they are "managed" or not...
[Resources are "what you need to be available for the process to work" - ie People, Information, Equipment, Power, Premises, Equipment, Finance, Knowledge, Skills, Competencies. The may be "put in" or "taken in" to the process, but you need them the next time you do the same thing]
Take an example of what is
not an input in these terms: the worst possible outcome of “Storing goods in a warehouse" would be for the goods to be “transformed” – you want them to come out looking and working exactly the way they did when they went in.
It is the definition that causes the problems...