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What is the difference between a system and a process?

Processes

• When we look at something and see a sequence of activities producing outputs we are observing a process.
• A process produces results through work being done in the process.
• Processes produce outputs
• Process owners manage process outputs

Systems

• When we look at something and see the buildings, the people, the relationships, the activities and the interactions we are observing a system.
• A system produces results through the interaction of elements
• Systems create outcomes
• System managers manage outcomes

There are therefore two quite different types of management.

• There is process management which will manage the achievement of results by planning, organizing, controlling and continually improving the work required to produce them.
• There is system management which will manage a system of interacting elements that function together to achieve an objective.

The boundary between process and system is where the output fulfils a system objective. E.g If we treat the series of steps in frying an egg as a process, we will find that frying the egg is one stage of a meal preparation process. The meal preparation process is one stage in the service delivery process. Any of these processes can interact with the outputs from a process that manages the resources used in meal preparation process. Cut off the supply of electricity and the cook can’t fry the egg. We therefore ascend through a hierarchy of processes to a system of processes which together with other elements deliver an experience that will delight the customer – the objective of frying the egg, preparing the meal and delivering the service.

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Systems