Show HN: TMail21 – Collaboration and Lean Processes for Teams

Here are the key concepts behind lean processes:

1) They are oriented towards knowledge workers (rather than I.T. employees or straight task workers).

2) They allow knowledge workers to start with simple discussions then progress towards goal-oriented discussions and finally lean processes. So, rather than starting with a fully formed abstract process, the idea is to start with examples, observe patterns and then rapidly iterate.

A related idea is to allow users to rapidly achieve Process-Problem fit. (This is analogous to the Product-Market fit concept from the Lean Startup methodology)

3) Zero-Code or Code-Later: The philosophy of Lean Processes is that knowledge workers need to be able to rapidly iterate on processes. Accordingly, anything that slows this iterative process down (such as requiring support from I.T.) is discouraged. To the extent that integration is required a code-later philosophy is implemented which allows a hardened process to be integrated with no interruption in the knowledge-worker flow.

4) Guidance and Support rather than Control: Traditional BPM is more geared towards a high-level of prescriptiveness and control. The Lean Process philosophy is that these types of processes are better handled by apps. Lean Processes are geared towards guidance and decision support. A related concept is that there is expected to be significant variation in processes and which requires a lean process system to be adaptive.

5) Communication and Collaboration are central to Lean Processes: Communication and collaboration need to be tightly integrated into the lean process.

6) Lean Processes span intra-business, B2B and B2C processes.