Designing, Improving And Implementing Business Processes: A Comprehensive Guide

The Concept of Business Processes

Question:

Discuss the designing, improving and implementing business processes. 

The idea of the term “business process” can be described as a set of rationally correlated commercial activities that come together to deliver a valuable achievement (like products, goods, services or information) to a consumer. As discussed by Weske 2012, it may frequently be envisaged as a chart of a progression of actions with interrelated conclusion point or as a “Process Matrix” of a series of actions with significant rules based on the information and data in the procedure. It is important for a company to design the business process rightly and pragmatically and implement it when it is typically needed. It is also important for a company to concentrate on the improvement and remodeling of the business process when needed. With the help of this business process, a company can achieve some strategic successes. 

As discussed by Jeston and Nelis 2014, the activities of shaping the workflow, needs of the equipment, and the requirements for implementation of a particular process can be designated as the process designing. Business process designing is needed for ensuring the efficiency, customer satisfaction and the management of the human resource of the company. As opined by Rademakers 2012, the business process designing characteristically uses some tools and calculating instruments like the flowchart, process simulation software, and scale models. Previously, when I did not have any idea about the designing improving and implementing the business processes, I had a false notion that a company does not need such plan. I had an idea that the companies are only making reactions to the market demands. Now the course of this study has changed my perception regarding the designing, implementing and improving the business processes. Now, I can understand that the modern day organizations should put the foremost priority to the designing of the Business process. Before adopting any major project, it is important for a company to examine and classify their business processes, and then converse and dissimilate these processes among the concerned personnel who need them.  This course of study has helped me to understand the implication of the designing, improving and implementing the business processes. Before this session, I did not have a clear idea and insight of the Business Process of an organization. Naturally, I did not have any understanding of the importance of the pragmatic designing, improving as well as the right and exact implementation of the business processes.

As discussed by Schmiedel et al. 2014, the idea of Business Process modeling has appeared rapidly during the last two or three decades, and it has substituted earlier organizational efficiency practices such as the Time and Motion Study (TMS) or Total Quality Management (TQM). The effective designing and implementation of the Business Processes can provide an organization a huge success in transparency, accountability and efficiency in performance. As opined by Vom Brocke et al. 2014, the business process design and implementation is a continuous process. Now, as understood within the course of the study, I can designate the idea of business process improvement as the methodical approach to assist an organization to optimize its fundamental procedures to accomplish more well-organized and efficient results.

The Importance of Business Process Designing

As discussed by Conforti et al. 2013, the idea of business process improvement was first acknowledged by H. James Harrington in his book named Business Process Improvement in the year of 1991. On the other hand, the implementation of the business process is also needed for a company, as it is not enough just to design a strategy. Thus, this course of study has provided me a better understanding of the designing, implementing and improving the business processes of a company.

I think business process management helps an organization in a number of ways in its aim of achieving the strategic goals. The business process management helps an organization in the following potential ways:

I think that a strategically adopted business process helps an organization in aligning its regular operations with the New Business Strategy of the same. Executing or modifying a business strategy typically requires a number of changes to the procedures and people performing the work (McElheran 2015). The Business Process Modeling helps here by serving managers and executives in maintaining uniformity across the processes while maintaining an eye on the general strategy of the organization.

I think the Business Process Modeling helps in the documenting and communicating of the organization's business processes to the employees. As the core idea of business process designing tells the employees and the authority that what is to be done, it helps in creating job clarity within the organization.

In addition to this, as opined by Gong and Janssen 2012, the business process designing and managing help in assessing the business practice as part of a managerial development project. By ensuring an increased efficiency and improving the channel and process of communication, the business process management helps in managerial and organizational development. According to my own perception developed in the process of the course of study, the business process management helps an organization in its overall management.

The course of the study made me realize that the business process management can be described as a methodical approach to make a company’s workflow more successful, better organized and more competent of acclimatizing to an ever-changing business atmosphere.

(Source: Gong and Janssen 2012)

As discussed by Ottensooser et al. 2012, by improving the efficiency of the business operation the business process management helps an organization to reduce its production and operation costs. A simplified operation helps the management to operate in a controlled and superior manner. In addition to this, according to my opinion, the business process management helps a company to reduce its market risks. As the business process management consists of a number of logically calculated strategies to enhance the workflow of the company. Therefore, it typically helps in reducing the market threats of a company.

On the other hand, by ensuring all the above-discussed factors the business process management helps an organization to achieve success as it improves the quality of the produce and the services of the company. It helps the company in ensuring a better branding in the market. Thus, the business process management helps in ensuring the organizational success. 

Continuous Improvement and Workflow Optimization

In the course of the study, I have participated in a number of activities and discussions regarding the concerned topic. These discussions and activities helped me to enrich myself with the right and pragmatic process of designing, implementing and improving the business process. Now I know that the business process designing is done by following two sequential steps. These are the analysis of the existing process of business operation and then designing a new one (Vukšić et al. 2013). In the analysis stage of a business process design, is the experts identify with the procedures of the business function and interact. Then by the result of the analysis stage, the experts improve the system of operating and interacting in the business. Thus, a company designs a business model.

This knowledge of business process management will help me in creating and better implementation of the business process management in my own workplace. This course of study has provided me the idea that the organizations which are more or less process oriented are in a better position in executing the practices projected by the BPM, however, those have no such regulation should include a development stage for the "enablement" on the attitude of BPM (Lohrmann and Reichert 2012). Now I know that there are some prerequisites in implementing a successful business process. It is important to determine that my workplace need; a strategic or a tactical business process model. This course of study has trained to me analysis the current business process and its efficiency in the operation of the company.

As opined by Vera-Baquero et al. 2013, it is important to collect the experts input before the designing of the business process. With a number of software and web based applications, I can ensure a better quality of prior analysis.  This course of the study has given me the knowledge of such software and applications. After analysis, I have to go for the designing or improving the business process in my workplace. My knowledge will help me in examining choices for accomplishing development by redesigning the procedure currently in operation. As opined by Seethamraju 2012, it is important to categorize and prioritize parts for improvement and implementing the process design according to an agreed schedule. All these knowledge I obtained from the discussions and activities I have attended in the course of the study. Now, I know the basic features and stages those have to be followed in implementing any business process. The discussions I attended gave me the idea of the importance of testing the cases of the execution of the finally developed business process model. I have to gather both commercial experts and the end users’ recognitions after iteration, and utilize the feedback in to make improvement in each stage (Yan et al. 2012). 

As discussed by Vukšić et al. 2013, it is important for the users to be trained to the business process of the organization. Here, the study will help me in the implementation of the process. Now, I know that it is important for the company to deploy the application in the production environment. Once the model is automated, I must gather information from performance meters, recognize areas for upgrading and do replications (Becker et al. 2013). The examination of this information will be essential for the realization of future improvements. Thus, providing knowledge about the process of designing, implementing and improving the business processes these activities and discussions helped me to improve my organization and its operation.

Benefits of Business Process Management

Now, along with this above discussion, few challenges those the BPMs face should also be mentioned. The discussions I have attended, gave me the knowledge that the BPMs sometimes face issues like, lack of funding, the old functional thinking, the change management of the company, the conflict in determining the tools and methodologies, the closing of the process, the knowledge of implementing the BPMs, etc. However, as discussed by Seethamraju 2012, it is tough for a company to eliminate such challenges. But, by eliminating them they can be able to ensure a better quality of business management and thus achieve the strategic goals more successfully (Christin et al. 2014). 

Conclusion:

Scrutinizing and defining an organization’s business process is the solitary crucial step necessary to comprehend how a business works, how that company wants or requires to work, and how to proceed in bridging the gap between the two. A business process is completely independent of who carries out the actions and the directorial structure of the company. A distinct set of business processes can be utilized as a framework for evaluating the influence of changes across the business. Therefore, it is crucial for a company to design, implement and improve the business processes in a pragmatic and market-oriented manner. 

References:

Becker, J., Kugeler, M. and Rosemann, M. eds., 2013. Process management: a guide for the design of business processes. Springer Science & Business Media.

Christin Jurisch, M., Palka, W., Wolf, P. and Krcmar, H., 2014. Which capabilities matter for successful business process change?. Business Process Management Journal, 20(1), pp.47-67.

Conforti, R., De Leoni, M., La Rosa, M. and Van Der Aalst, W.M., 2013, June. Supporting risk-informed decisions during business process execution. In Advanced Information Systems Engineering (pp. 116-132). Springer Berlin Heidelberg.

Gong, Y. and Janssen, M., 2012. From policy implementation to business process management: Principles for creating flexibility and agility.Government Information Quarterly, 29, pp.S61-S71.

Jeston, J. and Nelis, J., 2014. Business process management. Routledge.

Lohrmann, M. and Reichert, M., 2012. Modeling business objectives for business process management (pp. 106-126). Springer Berlin Heidelberg.

McElheran, K., 2015. Do market leaders lead in business process innovation? The case (s) of e-business adoption. Management Science,61(6), pp.1197-1216.

Ottensooser, A., Fekete, A., Reijers, H.A., Mendling, J. and Menictas, C., 2012. Making sense of business process descriptions: An experimental comparison of graphical and textual notations. Journal of Systems and Software, 85(3), pp.596-606.

Rademakers, T., 2012. Activiti in Action: Executable business processes in BPMN 2.0. Manning.

Schmiedel, T., Vom Brocke, J. and Recker, J., 2014. Development and validation of an instrument to measure organizational cultures’ support of business process management. Information & Management, 51(1), pp.43-56.

Seethamraju, R., 2012. Business process management: a missing link in business education. Business Process Management Journal, 18(3), pp.532-547.

Vera-Baquero, A., Colomo-Palacios, R. and Molloy, O., 2013. Business process analytics using a big data approach. IT Professional, 15(6), pp.29-35.

Vom Brocke, J., Schmiedel, T., Recker, J., Trkman, P., Mertens, W. and Viaene, S., 2014. Ten principles of good business process management.Business Process Management Journal, 20(4), pp.530-548.

Vukšić, V.B., Bach, M.P. and Popovič, A., 2013. Supporting performance management with business process management and business intelligence: A case analysis of integration and orchestration. International journal of information management, 33(4), pp.613-619.

Weske, M., 2012. Business process management: concepts, languages, architectures. Springer Science & Business Media.

Yan, Z., Dijkman, R. and Grefen, P., 2012. Business process model repositories–Framework and survey. Information and Software Technology,54(4), pp.380-395.