Distinguishing among concepts in Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012: process, practice, activity, task, procedure, and step

In this blog entry we take a closer look at how we apply the concepts named process, practice, activity, task, procedure, and step in Microsoft Dynamics AX.

But before we look at the concepts, I would like to offer an explanation about why we selected these terms to distinguish these unique concepts.

To accomplish specific organizational goals, an organization typically performs one or more functional activities. We named the concepts that support these functional activities in the following order from the more abstract concept to the most discrete concept: process > practice > activity > task > procedure > step.

1. We apply the term process to represent a functional work structure that an organization is responsible for designing, controlling, and improving. A process comprises a coordinated set of activities in which one or more participants consume, produce, and use economic resources to achieve one or more organizational goal.

   Example: The organization manages the sales order process.

2. We apply the term practice to represent a repeatable process that improves or maintains performance.

   Example: Three-way matching is a practice of matching vendor invoice prices and product quantities to purchase orders and product receipts.

3. We apply the term activity to a functional work structure in which one or more persons and pieces of equipment participate and in which resources are consumed, produced, and used. An activity can be decomposed into subactivities.

   Example: Generate a regional sales forecast.

4. We apply the term task to represent an atomic activity assigned to one or more persons or pieces of equipment responsible for meeting the requirements of the activity.

   Example: The task is to review all purchase orders that are in a pending state.

5. We apply the term procedure to represent a repeatable sequence of steps that are followed in a specific order to meet the requirements of a task.

   Example: During the closing procedure, the closing entries are entered in the general journal and are posted to the general ledger accounts.

6. We apply the term step to represent an operation in a task that progresses an activity towards completion.

   Example: The first step is to add a vendor invoice to an invoice group.

Term challenge

In the sentences that follow, insert the term that accurately completes each sentence.

To see if you applied the terms as we have, click the link in each sentence. Each link will take you to the Microsoft Dynamics AX glossary entry for the highlighted term, which shows you which term we have applied – process, practice, activity, task, procedure, or step.

1. Accounting is the ____________ of recording, classifying, summarizing, and reporting the financial consequences of business events.
2. A procedure is a repeatable sequence of ____________ that are followed in a specific order to meet the requirements of a task.
3. Capacity is the actual or potential ability of a resource to perform a/an ____________ or to produce output in a specified time period.
4. A duty is a responsibility to perform one or more ____________ or to provide services for a job.
5. Costing is the ____________ of calculating, assigning, and allocating the cost of economic resources acquired, produced, or delivered by an organization.
6. Capacity planning is a/an ____________ for determining the resource capacity requirements that meet the demand of future output during specific time periods.

Comments

• Anonymous
  January 01, 2003
  Thanks for your question! These terms and the concepts and terms that are discussed in my blog entries are not part of any specific training opportunity. They name the concepts and terms that are implemented in Microsoft Dynamics AX. Our entire glossary is published on TechNet (technet.microsoft.com/.../hh208626.aspx). You'll see these terms in the product, in our help topic content, and in some of the training courses that are offered.

• Anonymous
  October 11, 2011
  interesting..which training opportunity are there about?