Ep10 How to map a contract for productivity
Time to make your contract process more productive
Mindset:
It’s complicated (but it doesn’t have to be)
On this episode of the Checklist Legal Podcast, we look at:
How to create a mind map
My favourite application for creating mind maps
How to create process maps for more complicated contracts with lots of moving parts
And of course our ACTIONABLE CHALLENGE that we have in every episode for you to try.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Start simple, avoid those process pigs! Start out your contract mapping career with some easy… low hanging fruit process. Stick with documents that have linear work flows (i.e. I send to Justin, Justin fills in information signs and sends to Brittany, Brittany signs and we are done!).
Find out who owns the contract process steps that are slowing everyone down
Check in process step owners and ask how can you make life easier or speed things up for them.
Reduce the number of people in the process.
Gather clear and accurate information as early as possible
Try to link in with an existing customer database to reduce data entry (which people find boring and often put off).
Make it a firm requirement to get all information from clients or customer before the contract process kicks off (i.e. in an application form or other collection method).
Add hard stops that don’t allow people to proceed without entering required information.
Use drop down menus or check boxes instead of free text fields to eliminate errors and speed up data entry.
ACTIONABLE CHALLENGE
Pick a basic contract you work on regularly – it doesn’t have to be a hard one or one you dislike – go to
(or use any mind map tool or pens and paper) and map that contract out step by step.
LINKS
Links to sources from this episode of the
and background information:Get the Swim Lane Diagram template and other free resources via https://checklistlegal.com/resources
Legal Process Mapping for fun and profit
Legal Process Mapping: A beginner’s guide to mapping legal processes for fun and profit
To download the Swim Lane Diagram template visit our digital store below
Decision Trees and mapping
Zingtree: Zingtree is an incredibly powerful way to give guided advice or troubleshoot issues
Coggle: Coggle is an amazing mind mapping tool
Stationary: Or just use Post its or Pen and paper or a whiteboard
For the 5 Why technique straight from Toyota, see toyota-global.com/company/toyota_traditions/quality/mar_apr_2006.html, accessed 27 May 2017.TD Barton, H Haapio and T Borisova, ‘Flexibility and Stability in Contracts’© (2014) Retrieved via ulapland.fi/loader.aspx?id=5a80d6cd-83dd-4126-bb16-a069b85533d2, accessed 10 June 2017.
Think Buzan, ‘Mind Mapping Evidence Report’ Retrieved via b701d59276e9340c5b4d-ba88e5c92710a8d62fc2e3a3b5f53bbb.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/docs/Mind%20Mapping%20Evidence%20Report.pdf, accessed 10 June 2017.
Mind Mapping, ‘What is a Mind Map?’
(2017) Retrieved via mindmapping.com/mind-map.php, accessed 10 June 2017.
Music: Silent Partner, ‘Sway this way’
For all resources discussed in this episode visit The Checklist Legal Boutique
