SIPOC for Standing Up a New GCC Function

Map suppliers, inputs, processes, outputs, and customers to eliminate handoff waste when launching a new GCC capability.

Why SIPOC Before You Hire

Most GCC launches fail because teams skip the handoff map. You hire the right people, build the right tools, and still see work pile up in queues. SIPOC exposes the invisible friction before you spend a dollar.

Draw the Map in One Afternoon

Grab a whiteboard. Use five columns: Suppliers, Inputs, Process, Outputs, Customers. Fill each row with one line. Keep it concrete.

Suppliers

List every source of work and material. Examples:

Product team for backlog items
Finance for budget approvals
HR for onboarding paperwork
Legal for data processing agreements

Inputs

List what each supplier delivers.

Jira tickets with acceptance criteria
FIDs and budget codes
Employee ID numbers
Signed DPAs

Process

Write the core steps as verbs. One line per step.

Intake and triage incoming requests
Assign to subject matter experts
Execute deliverables against SLA
Review and sign off
Archive artifacts

Outputs

List what leaves each step.

Triage report with priority tags
Assigned work packages
Completed deliverables
Signed approval forms
Archived project files

Customers

Who receives each output?

SMEs receive triage reports
Teams receive assigned packages
Stakeholders receive deliverables
Compliance receives approvals
Future teams receive archives

Spot the Waste

Look for these patterns:

Inputs that arrive late or incomplete
Outputs that require rework
Customers who wait for multiple handoffs
Suppliers who duplicate work

Example: If legal signs off after execution, you're reworking. Move legal review to intake.

Validate with Real Data

Run a one-week pilot with five tickets.

Time each handoff
Count rework loops
Note where work stops

Use the numbers to refine the map. Change one column at a time. Measure again.

Lock It Down

Turn the map into a one-page SOP.

Assign owners to each column
Set acceptance criteria for inputs
Define SLAs for outputs
Review monthly with actual data

Update when scope changes. Never let it rot in a shared drive.

Next Steps

Apply SIPOC to your next GCC launch. Start with the intake process. Map it. Run a pilot. Cut the waste. Scale the rest.