Business Process Improvement Case Study Essay And Personal Reflection.

Assessment: Reflection Report: Best Practice of BPI case study

Business Process Improvement Of The System Integrator Companies Through A Case Study Analysis

1. Critically analyse the role of management information systems in sustaining successful organisations.

2. Critically evaluate approaches to business process management and systems, their associated risks and implementation processes.

3. Establish and justify governance processes for business process management change to ensure that all stakeholders are considered in technology change decisions

This assessment is to evaluate students’ critical thinking and analytical skills, as well as public speaking and personal reflection. The assessment requests students to deliver a presentation in class or via a teleconference, and provide a commentary on a selected Business Process Improvement (BPI) case study. Feedback from the cohort must be collected, analysed and incorporated in the personal reflection report, which is the second part of the assessment.

In this assessment, the students will begin with reading a selective case study of Business Process Improvement practice, 

Review All modules;

Familiarise with reflection report writing style.

Students are required to compile a personal reflection report.

Output:

The BPI Reflection report should cover:

Brief description of the case study: Review and Analysis on the feedback from the cohort

Individual learning journey through the subject. Can follow “Before, During, After” or “What, So What, Now What” format;

Other personal thinking and feeling.

This paper covers the reflection on the business case study that we were provided in our course. The case study is about the analysis of systems integrators used by companies for Business Process Improvement. It briefly describes the case and provides reviews and analysis of the feedback in the case provided. Not forgetting the lessons I have attended, the paper also reflects on what we have learned over this semester and how I can apply the knowledge gained in my personal and professional life.

The case provided is about the use of IT solutions as the main mechanism in managing business processes and business information. In reference to the case, the quality and the effectiveness of processing of business information is directly dependent on the implementation of the IT systems. There are various firms which specialize in system integration and such companies are referred to as system Integrator Company. System integration, in this case, refers to the process of bringing together components of subsystems into a whole to ensure those subsystems functions together in an effective manner. System integrators are involved in solving various problems of the business process generally using Information technology (Luftman, Lyytinen & Zvi, 2017). 

The case uses Porter’s five forces framework to analyze the strategic positioning of system integrator firms. Porter’s five forces framework remains the most influential factor in the firms and their environment. The forces identified in the case include the competitive rivalry where the major market threats to companies involved in system integration are a foreign investment that is characterized by the disloyal competition. The second force is the supplier’s strength which involves the strengths of distributors or partners of the company. Its competitiveness of the solutions is directly dependent on the power of the supplies. To increase their competitive merits, such firms strategize on having a strong partnership with distributors and vendors and invest in quality IT technology. 

The other force is the customer's power which according to the case increases along with competition growth on the market. In reference to this force in the Macedonian market, system integration companies have strategized on the adjustment and improvement of already implemented solutions in the market. The other force that defines the strategic position of system integration companies is the threat of substitution and to avoid this challenge, such firms have established partnerships with various suppliers and producers of ICT solutions and services. The other force is the threat of the new entry of potential competitors for new domestic and foreign investments (Dumas et al., 2013).

Brief Description of the Business Case Study

In my case presentation, the core business domain of KING ICT includes conveyance and implementation as well as the integration of IT business solutions. Also, system integrator firms provide respective IT services and support. The main aim of the integration of business systems is to implement the processing of input and output data.

I singled out the integration and implementation of various IT solutions basing on the methodology of the real case of KING ICT system-integrator Company. In reference to the case, KING ICT is positioned as one of the stable system integrator company in the area. Due to its implementation of the integrated IT solution, its core business has improved significantly. KING ICT Company services include consultation services, development, and implementation of IT services, technical support and maintenance as well as appropriate education for delivered solutions.

From the case, I could understand that KING ICT disposes of a broad portfolio which is consisted of IT solution and services and its portfolio is based on several principles which I could effectively present them. One of these principles is technological expertise which involves continuous training and education of staff and certification by other technology partners. The other principle is improving business processes through the execution of quality standards and quality management frameworks. Also, KING ICT incorporates principles of research and development, customer centricity, business process management such as ERP and business processes as well as staff management and human resource development. 

In reference to what I presented, the lecture commented me for presenting a clear and eye catching case presentation. Some of the feedbacks and recommendation from my tutor is that in my case presentation, I did not add any table of contents, agenda or introductions. In reference to tutor’s feedback, a comprehensive introduction is imperative for an excellent presentation. Also, my tutor was able to advise me to modulate the tone of my voice and minimize the reading. Also, some of my slides were too wordy and my tutor advised me to reduce them and make use of more graphs, pictures and charts as this will effectively engage my audiences. Generally my tutor was able to recommend me for good work on analysis of BPM in small business as well as the analysis of various tools and techniques in BPI practices (Zhao, 2017).

While reflecting on this feedback from my lecturer, I have gained good skills and knowledge on how to make my presentation engage my audiences. In future I will be able to make use of table contents, agenda and introductions in my presentation. I will also modulate the tone of my voice and minimize the reading by adding more graphs, tables and pictures as this will effectively engage my audiences.

Analysis of the Strategic Positioning of System Integrator Firms

In relation to this subject we have covered various modules that have shaped us in terms of skills and knowledge. The various modules that we have covered in this subject include change control tools and techniques, directing and managing project work, quality assurance and control and risk and communication management. Also, we have covered progress and performance measurement and performed various projects as subject closure. These entire modules involved a lot of activities that we had to discuss in groups and class discussion. They involved drawing on tools and techniques of sourcing project data, developing various processes, measuring and managing scopes as well as quality checking on complex global projects.

Also, in these modules we were able to examine how to monitor and manage project execution by implementing a project plan and managing its progress. We have applied performance reporting, analysis as well as various measurement techniques that ensure all processes are executed as planned. Besides, we have learned how to respond to risk and events, how to manage scope changes and how to communicate with other employees and stakeholders in an organization. On risk and communication management, we were able to critically analyze projects and their associated risks. On these projects we were also able to effectively develop a range of strategies that can effectively help in minimizing (Bhaskar, 2016).

In reference to all what we have learned in class, group discusses and in the case, I can feel that I have moved one step further to becoming what I want to be in my future career. This subject has instilled me with a lot of skills and knowledge that I am sure I will need in my profession. With the knowledge that I have gained in this subject, I can effectively critically analyze the role of management information systems for the effective running of businesses. Besides, I have gained knowledge of various approaches that can be used to critically evaluate business process management and systems and their linked risks.

With this knowledge and skills that I have learned in this subject, I am sure in future I will be able to use it in monitoring and managing project execution and by implementing a project plan and managing its progress. I will also be able to effectively apply performance reporting, analysis as well as various measurement techniques that ensure all processes are executed as planned. Besides, I will be able to use the knowledge and skills learned in effectively responding to risk and events, in management of scope changes and in effectively communicating with other staffs and stakeholders for the success of the organization. In conclusion, the knowledge that I have gained in class together with this case is of importance in personal and professional life as a manager.

References

Bhaskar, H. L. (2016). A critical analysis of information technology and business process reengineering. International Journal of Productivity and Quality Management, 19(1), 98-115.

Dumas, M., La Rosa, M., Mendling, J., & Reijers, H. A. (2013). Fundamentals of business process management (Vol. 1, p. 2). Heidelberg: Springer.

Luftman, J., Lyytinen, K., & Zvi, T. B. (2017). Enhancing the measurement of information technology (IT) business alignment and its influence on company performance. Journal of Information Technology, 32(1), 26-46.

Zhao, W. (2017, September). Analysis on the Integration of Business Intelligence and Business Process Management. In 2nd International Conference on Judicial, Administrative and Humanitarian Problems of State Structures and Economic Subjects (JAHP 2017). Atlantis Press.