We explain what a process is and what the purpose of this set of actions is. Also, the different meanings that this term has.
What is a process?
The word process comes from latin processusformed by pro (“forward”) and cadere (“walk”), as it refers to the action of going forward, of moving along a certain path and, by similarity, advance in time. It is a term used in a huge variety of contexts, especially technical or industrial, but always retaining that original meaning.
In general terms, We talk about processes when we have an initial state and a final state. of some body, system or environment, between which there is a transformation, displacement or change of some nature.
This is how we talk about geological processes to refer to the millennia-long changes of the earth's surface; erosive processes for changes caused by wind and water wear; biological processes for those that involve changes in ways of life; industrial processes for those that man can carry out on matter to obtain products of a different nature, and thus a gigantic etcetera.
Another important use of the term process It has to do with the stages that make up the cycle of a given systemsuch as administrative, computer or social systems, among others. In these areas, a process is understood as something that is occurring, that is, an active element that may well merit control, direction, evaluation, etc.
- See also: Procedure
Administrative process
In administration, processes are understood as the flow of activities that occur between the various components of a company or institution. Thus, the administrative processes are the different operations that the organization launches to achieve your objectives and satisfy your needs.
Broadly speaking, we can speak of a single major administrative process, common to every organization and which can be understood in four phases, coinciding with the objectives of business administration:
- Planning. It is about the future projection of the needs, objectives and steps to follow by the company.
- Organization. Combination of the resources available for the work with the personnel trained to do it, in the best way, in order to meet the objectives set above.
- Address. Orientation and guidance of the work, as well as encouragement and cooperation, in order to meet the objectives set. It is equivalent to business “strategy.”
- Control. Here we talk about feedback, evaluation, checking that things are happening as they should, or reading how they happened to correct defects in the general process.
- Administrative process
Process in biology
In the field of biology, it is defined evolutionary process to the transformations that species undergo continuously due to the different changes that may arise over the years and with different generations. In turn, this process indicates that evolution is a characteristic of living matter and that they all come from a universal common ancestor. All species that exist today are in this evolutionary process.
Process in computing
When it comes to computing, a process is called set of logical and arithmetic operations carried out by computers in order to be able to manage data and obtain the desired results.
An example of this type of process is called multi-threading, which is that there are many different processes working together for a single objective. This happens in the case of video games where one process works at the same time for the music, another for the drawings and another for the intelligence of the game.
Process in psychology
According to psychology, cognitive processes refer to those mechanisms by which information is captured, memorized or processed whether through the senses or memory. They are those processes by which people know and require the correct functioning of the organism.
Furthermore, it is called educational process to that in which human beings learn to live together and beand for this you need to develop your knowledge as well as your values. It is socialization through education and teaching. This process begins with a person, who may be a teacher or family member, transmitting his or her own knowledge and values to others. We could say then that there is a subject who teaches and another who learns. However, this process does not always occur in such a linear manner, since many times the people who learn also leave teachings and values to those who teach.
Process in economics
In economics, the production process refers to all the operations necessary to be able to carry out production as well as a good or a service. These actions must occur in a determined, orderly, planned and consecutive manner in order to achieve the desired transformation and thus be able to enter the market correctly to be marketed in a timely manner.
The production process also includes design, production and consumption of the same. To be able to carry it out satisfactorily, technological, economic and, clearly, human resources are needed. In turn, these products can be classified as intermediate products, such as raw materials that are completed with other subsequent actions, and final products, those that are marketed so that consumers can purchase them in the market and enjoy them. .
Social process
Social processes are the different ways in which culture and society change or are preserved during moments of historical crisis. Revolutions, major changes in modes of government, transformations of society, in short, are usually the end of one or a series of social processes, which begin in different ways and can achieve their goals or fail.
Usually social processes lead to various types of interaction between citizensbe it conflict, harmonization, integration, etc. They can be revolutionary and innovative, or rather conservative and retrograde. They are the object of study of History, which sees in them the germ of coming historical events or the explanation of the paths taken by different societies throughout their particular history.
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References
- “Process” in the Language Dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy.
- “What is administrative process?” in Gestiopolis.
