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Main flow · Input
Input
The information, requests and materials a process handles to produce the agreed result.
Every input has a source
An input may come from a customer, supplier, another team or the preceding process. Describe the material, its format and quality, and who is responsible for its availability. This prevents handovers between processes from relying on assumptions.
Check quality on receipt
Incomplete inputs increase the risk of errors and rework. Define what is checked on receipt, who supplies missing information, and whether work may continue despite gaps. A good process also detects errors and returns materials for completion.
An input is the material being processed. Enabling data is the knowledge available to support the process.
Practical example
Procuring an information system
The business provides requirements, the architecture team assesses compatibility, and finance provides the approved budget and purchasing authority. Risk management helps identify the system's criticality. A privacy assessment and, where needed, a DPIA supplement the decision-making material.
A DPIA concerns personal data processing likely to result in a high risk. It is not automatically mandatory for all processing of personal data. GDPR, Article 35.
Include in your process description
- What is needed before processing can start?
- Who supplies the input, and in what format?
- What criteria are used to accept the material?
- Where is incomplete material returned?
Connections to other components
Based on the Generic Process Model materials. Questions and practical guidance have been structured for reading on the web. Sources and clarifications.