| Term | Definition |
| Agile Methods | A set of principles and iterative frameworks for software and systems development that prioritize adaptability, customer collaboration, and incremental delivery. Agile promotes continuous planning, development, and feedback cycles to accommodate evolving requirements. |
| Business Process Automation (BPA) | The structured use of technology to automate recurring, rule-based business activities and workflows, with the objective of improving operational efficiency, accuracy, and scalability. BPA typically involves the orchestration of systems, data, and human interactions to streamline end-to-end processes, often through the use of workflow engines, integration platforms, or robotic process automation tools. It differs from simple task automation by targeting entire business processes rather than isolated activities. |
| Data Governance | A strategic framework that defines decision rights, processes, standards, and metrics to ensure the effective management of data throughout its lifecycle. It ensures that data is accurate, available, secure, and compliant with regulatory and business standards. |
| Minimum Viable Automation (MVA) | A strategy in which the smallest functional instance of an automation solution is developed and deployed to validate feasibility, deliver immediate value, and inform broader implementation. MVAs serve as experimental prototypes to test assumptions before scaling. |
| Modular Design | A design paradigm that organizes complex systems into discrete, interchangeable units (modules) with defined interfaces, allowing for independent development, testing, and replacement. This approach enhances scalability, reusability, and maintainability in both software and hardware systems. |
| Orchestration | The automated coordination and management of interdependent tasks, services, or systems in a unified workflow to achieve a defined business objective. Orchestration ensures that complex automation processes execute in the correct sequence with appropriate resource allocation, error handling, and system integration. |
| Process Mapping | A method of visually documenting the sequential steps, inputs, outputs, and decision logic within a business process. Typically represented through flowcharts or swimlane diagrams, process mapping serves to clarify operations, detect inefficiencies, and support continuous improvement efforts. |
| Robotic Process Automation (RPA) | A form of business process automation wherein software agents, commonly referred to as bots, emulate structured human actions across digital systems to execute repetitive and rule-based tasks. RPA operates by following predefined logic via user interface interactions or APIs, without altering the underlying systems. |
| Value Stream Diagram | A visualization technique derived from Lean methodology, used to map the complete sequence of activities (both value-adding and non-value-adding) required to deliver a product or service. The diagram highlights material and information flows, enabling organizations to identify waste and optimize process flow. |
| Workflow Design | The systematic structuring and sequencing of tasks, decision points, and information flows within a process to achieve a desired business outcome. It often includes the use of process diagrams to promote clarity, identify inefficiencies, and facilitate optimization. |
Keith Mintoff 