sub-process
What It Means
A sub-process is a smaller, specific workflow that sits inside a larger business process. Think of it like a recipe step that can be used in multiple different recipes - it's a reusable chunk of work that accomplishes one particular task within bigger operations.
Why Chief AI Officers Care
Sub-processes are critical for AI automation because they represent the building blocks that AI systems can learn, optimize, and execute independently. When you break down complex operations into well-defined sub-processes, you can apply AI more effectively to each piece and create more reliable, scalable automated workflows.
Real-World Example
In customer onboarding, you might have sub-processes for 'identity verification,' 'credit checking,' and 'account setup.' The identity verification sub-process could be reused across loan applications, new credit cards, and investment accounts - each following the same steps but within different parent processes.
Common Confusion
People often confuse sub-processes with simple task lists or think they're just smaller versions of full processes. The key difference is that sub-processes are standardized, reusable components that maintain their own complete workflow while serving multiple larger processes.
Industry-Specific Applications
See how this term applies to healthcare, finance, manufacturing, government, tech, and insurance.
Healthcare: In healthcare, sub-processes are critical reusable workflows like "patient identity verification" or "medication reconci...
Finance: In finance, sub-processes are critical components of larger financial workflows like accounts payable, financial reporti...
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Includes:
- 6 industry-specific applications
- Relevant regulations by sector
- Real compliance scenarios
- Implementation guidance
Technical Definitions
NISTNational Institute of Standards and Technology
"A subordinate process that can be included within a parent process. It can be present and/or repeated within other parent processes."Source: IEEE_Guide_IPA
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