High Level Comparison

In terms of a rational to switch over to Lifecycle from another product such as Microsoft Visio, let’s start off with a top level comparison of each product. As taken from Microsoft’s own web site, “Visio is a drawing and diagramming solution that can help people transform business and technical concepts into visual diagrams.”

In contrast to a ‘drawing and diagramming’ tool, the Lifecycle Process Mapping System is an information-based procedure management system which allows users to quickly capture, modify, and broadcast procedure information with many more features.

Detailed Comparison

• Speed: Lifecycle does not require the user to do any drawing as this is done automatically by the flowcharting wizard. Procedures are therefore recorded in far less time than with any other product including Visio.

• Ease of use: Lifecycle does not require the user to have any flowcharting knowledge, whereas Visio does.

• Efficiency: Although you can print procedures with Lifecycle, the product is designed to broadcast procedures specifically for online purposes – to empower employees through maximum information access.

• Simplicity: The web based procedure viewer (‘Front Counter Assistant’) allows users to interactively see only the specific steps that apply to the situation at hand. This means that once you have Lifecycle implemented, you can have someone fulfill a new job position with virtually no training required. This eliminates the confusion that comes with having to visually follow through an entire procedure when students are waiting to be served.

• Internal or external functionality: The Lifecycle system can allow procedures to be managed both for your internal staff, and for your students. Having interactive procedures available for student usage can significantly reduce the strain on your call centre.

• Standards of quality: Since the Lifecycle system does all the drawing for you, each procedure conforms to ISO 9000 rules of flowcharting, and is therefore extremely easy to understand. In contrast, Visio is a free-form drawing tool which often creates readability problems when procedures are transferred from one user to another.

• The ability to manage procedure feedback: The Lifecycle system allows for feedback to be collected and tracked for each individual procedure. The incorporation of procedure feedback creates a loop of integrity so that procedures remain up to date. Visio does not provide any procedure feedback functionality.

• The ability to manage change: The Lifecycle system allows users to decide which procedure changes require broadcasting, and which do not. In addition to this, change notification is distributed on the user level, as opposed to a general message to a group. Visio does not provide any change notification functionality.

• The ability to control access to procedures: The Lifecycle system comes equipped with a User Administrator which allows you control who sees what. Visio does not provide such a user administrator.

Conclusion

If you are looking for a drawing and diagramming product that you can use for many different purposes such as redesigning your living room, Visio may be a worthwhile tool for this purpose. However, if you are looking for a procedure management tool that can be customized for your specific needs in order to streamline your organization, then the Lifecycle Process Mapping System is the right tool for you.

The Next Step:

Find out more about Impressive Software Solutions, the makers of the Lifecycle Process Mapping System.

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