SERVICE
Business Process Improvement
Addresses these Questions:
Who has the expertise to help me manage a business process improvement effort?
How do I form a team to analyze a current process and recommend changes?
Where do I turn for objective advice for using technology to improve my business processes?
What steps do I take to implement a new business process?
The typical value proposition for business technology is that it increases worker productivity through the automation of business processes. That being said, it is always a bad idea to assume that technology is a silver bullet for improving business processes. Experienced IT managers know that the technology should be considered as part of the total answer for how a business process is improved.
Do you really need new technology? – It is human nature to want to solve problems; and many people are intrigued by and interested in the latest and greatest technologies. These two tendencies can foster quick business decisions that can ultimately lead to the wrong technology or unneeded technology. The potenetial for unnecessary costs and disruptions to the business processes should be enough for any business manager to invest in a careful upfront analysis of the real problems and needs before committing to a technical solution.
Most experienced IT project managers understand that many technology projects are business process improvement projects (BPI) first and foremost. Because of this, most experienced IT project managers have developed significant experience and skill facilitating and managing BPI efforts.
A unique type of project – Successful BPI projects require strong collaboration links between all critical participants and stakeholders. They are analytical efforts that require participation from key knowledge workers within the organization, other analytical experts. BPI projects typically produce no real tangible results other that the documents which describe the business processes and the recommendations for changing these processes. The more involved projects may require some “proof of concept” work for certain technologies. Technology vendors may be involved. Because of the need to maintain complete objectivity within the BPI effort, any vendor participation must be carefully managed.
Require Experience BPI Facilitators – BPI efforts should be run as true projects; however, the uniqueness of the work effort requires a different approach than other types of projects. More than ever, BPI projects require absolute strong sponsorship from the business side. Experienced IT managers and IT project managers generally add value by facilitating the BPI data collection and analysis process similarly to how they do this for technology projects. They also add value by managing the technical connection to the BPI effort. Since technology permeates most business processes today, it is more necessary for business to partner with experienced IT experts to help perform a complete analysis and recommendation.
K2 Technical Services has experience participating in, facilitating and managing BPI projects. Most of our K2Pros ™ have acquired professional project management certifications. We provide the expertise to help ensure you receive the utmost value for your technology investments.