What is considered waste in a business process?

In a business process, waste is identified as steps that do not produce value. This understanding is foundational in continuous improvement methodologies, such as Lean, which aim to optimize processes by eliminating non-value-adding activities. Waste can manifest in various forms, including excess movement, waiting times, or unnecessary tasks that do not contribute to the end product or service from the customer's perspective.

Recognizing steps that do not create value is crucial because they often consume resources—time, labor, and money—without offering a return on investment in terms of customer satisfaction or operational efficiency. By focusing efforts on removing these wasteful activities, organizations can streamline their processes, reduce costs, and improve overall productivity, aligning closely with the goals of the ITIL 4 DPI practice of delivering value to stakeholders.