Business processes Management (BMP) are fundamental to the ability of a company to successfully execute business strategies. Technology, the right employees, and supporting structures can all help make this happen. But having the right processes in place is the best way businesses can deliver value to their customers and continue to remain competitive. So the question becomes, how do companies develop high-performing business processes?
BPM examines and evaluates the processes that are present in an organization. It ensures that any processes in place are effective and cost efficient. It identifies and improves existing processes so the entire organization can continue to find better ways to get things done.
Organizational leaders are continuously seeking ways in which to save money, especially in difficult economic times. They must ensure that all operational processes are as effective and efficient as possible with the resources left in place. It is disappointing that so few recognize how easily they can reach operational efficiencies through BPM.
In essence, BPM will help to identify new opportunities to improve key business processes. BPM examines all key business processes and streamlines them for effectiveness and efficiency. Its goal is to increase productivity levels, improve staff motivation levels and help customers feel the positive impact of these decisions. Furthermore, once business processes are documented, it is easier to identify which processes may require additional support, as we return to growth.
BPM combines the best of effective quality tools with the principles of Lean Management to create a quick analysis of key business processes in order to immediately increase their effectiveness and efficiency. This helps organizations to remain competitive, innovative, and profitable by identifying a reduction in their cost and cycle-time while increasing customer satisfaction levels and delivering standardized high quality. The core elements of BPM include:
Identifying Key Business Processes
Select only key business processes. That is, those process that have a direct impact on the organization and its customers. Develop the benchmark against which success will be measured.
Identifying the Voice of the Customer
Collect this data through your internal and external feedback mechanisms. This will include surveys and interviews. Recognize that customers of each key business process will likely include both internal and external customers.
Develop the Current Value Stream Map
Use all of the subject matter experts to ensure that you are able to identify everything that is included in completing each portion of the key business process. Create a detailed flowchart of this information. This will identify what is being done and why.
Measure the Process
Identify the direct costs, people costs, overhead costs and opportunity costs associated with this business process.
Completing a Root Cause Analysis of the key business process
Identify all of the blockages and barriers preventing the business process from immediately reaching its defined “improvement†requirements.
Developing the Ideal Value Stream
Put aside what you know to be true of the current process and identify the blockages and barriers to reaching your defined success measures. Create the “ideal†process map that will address the root causes of all identified issues, concerns, problems and challenges in the current process.
Developing Solutions
Generate a list of possible options and solutions that can be implemented. Select the best possible options and solutions, ensuring that these will overcome the root causes.
Developing the Implementation Plan
Develop a detailed implementation strategy to ensure that the solutions are successfully realized. Include who needs to do what, when and with what resources.
Conclusion
It is imperative that organizations start to analyze their key business processes, using BPM, to ensure that performance and employee morale is increased. It is likely that staff is still feeling stressed from the recession of this past year and ready to embrace the positive change that engagement in BPM will ensure.