What is the primary focus of process mining?

The primary focus of process mining is centered on analyzing structured event log data. This technique involves extracting and interpreting the data produced by various IT systems within an organization, which includes logs that track the progression of processes. By doing so, process mining enables organizations to visualize their actual workflows, identify bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and deviations from expected processes. This analysis provides powerful insights into how processes are functioning in reality, which can subsequently inform decision-making and process improvement initiatives.

In contrast, generating financial forecasts, improving employee satisfaction ratings, and increasing product sales directly are not the main thrust of process mining. While these areas may benefit from insights derived from process mining, they are broader organizational goals that require different analytical approaches not solely focused on the investigation of structured event logs. Process mining specifically targets the detailed examination of process flows, making it a vital tool for identifying areas for optimization within operations.