The Document Methodology

The Document Methodology is written for anyone who is trying to manage, operate, understand or change a relatively complex set of business processes supported by an information system on a computer network. The Document Methodology embodies five axioms that form the basis for its approach. The sequence of the axioms reflects the sequence of the book, with each axiom discussed individually in Chapters 2 to 6. The axioms are:

1. Documents record enterprise knowledge. Knowing what support cycles were used to record and access knowledge in what documents provides a base to create more value.

2. Documents define the enterprise process. Defining projects with document milestones of core processes provides a foundation for monitoring and compiling statistics on enterprise performance.

3. Documents provide facts to manage people. The summary of process and resource statistics can be used by the management infrastructure to operate and change its core processes.

4. Documents structure support systems. Requirements for exceptional access to knowledge and for computation of process statistics frame an enabling technology architecture.

5. Documents guide enterprise change. Using variance to understand process and relieve bottlenecks provides the facts to simulate, plan and deploy innovative change.