Business analysis glossary
AS-IS Process
What it is
The AS-IS process is how work is really done today, including workarounds, delays and manual steps. It is documented by observing and asking, not by reading the official procedure alone. Analysts gather it through interviews, observation and data, and they note exceptions, such as what staff do when the system is down.
Why it matters
You cannot improve what you have not understood. A true picture of today's process gives a baseline for measuring improvement and reveals where problems start. Stakeholders also confirm it is accurate, because people tend to agree to a new process more readily when they see their real work is understood.
Example
The written procedure at Brightpath Logistics says drivers scan every parcel. Observation shows they photograph the delivery note and a clerk re-types it that evening. That is the AS-IS process the analyst records. Recording this honestly, without blame, shows the gap between the official procedure and the real one and gives the improvement a meaningful starting point.