BPM ~ From Common Sense to Common Practice (Part 7): BPM Methodology Fundamentals
In order to realize the intent of the principles of Business Process Management (BPM), significant architecture, analysis, and design work must occur, consistent with the principles outlined earlier in this series. Every component must contribute towards the establishment of a process-organized capability to deliver business performance and its improvement. The following Table describes the requirements of a methodology in terms of what we need to know, in what order, the tools needed to capture it, and the way it contributes to business performance.
What Do We need to Know? |
What Management Tool will we use? |
How will it Contribute to Business Performance |
What Organization are we optimizing? |
"Organization-in-Focus" Scope Model |
Business Definition |
What are the external pressures and drivers that the organization must deal with? |
Driver and Market Analysis |
Business's Market Performance Assessment |
What does the organization want to become and by when? |
Business Strategic Intent Documentation |
Strategic Objectives |
What are the external stakeholders for the organization? |
Stakeholder Map — Role Hierarchy |
Stakeholder Relationship KPIs & Performance Objectives |
What products and services do we exchange with our stakeholders? |
Stakeholder Exchange / Interaction Map |
Product and Service KPIs & Performance Objectives |
What other items do we exchange with them? |
Stakeholder Exchange / Interaction Map |
Product and Service & Stakeholder Relationship KPIs & Performance Objectives |
What must we do as an organization to meet our stakeholder intentions? |
Process Architecture Map — levels 1 and 2 |
Aligned Process Goals, KPIs and Performance Objectives |
How should we organize best to meet our process requirements? |
Process Stewardship Map and Organization Chart |
Process Organization KPIs & Performance Objectives |
What technology resources must we have in place in order to perform what we must do? |
Enterprise Technology Architecture Models |
Technology Capability Goals and Performance Objectives |
What human skills and competencies do we need in order to perform what we must do? |
Human Competencies Map |
HR Goals and Performance Objectives |
How should we allocate our investment resources to achieve maximum performance? |
Transformation Program Plan |
Transformation Goals, KPIs, & Program Performance Objectives |
What is the actual performance of the 'Organization-in Focus' |
Performance Monitoring Results |
Actual Measures against above Objectives |
The Table shows that there is a lot to know if you want to truly improve business performance through the organizing effect of business processes. It also shows that there are multiple models, or maps, that are required, showing different aspects of the 'Organization in Focus'.
Like maps of a country that show political regions, precipitation, temperature, or population, these performance-oriented maps are related and all are important. They answer the questions posed by different perspectives. They must be aligned by the process perspective in order to build the full performance management capability that is required for process managers to manage processes and outcomes.
The Process Methodology for process management that has been described in this series is designed to organize and integrate all of the requirements into a repeatable approach that can be trusted to deliver. The methodology shown in Figure 1 (as introduced in Part 3 of this series) attempts to honor these principles and structure, while dealing with the multiple perspectives required.
Figure 1. Process Renewal Framework
In Conclusion
In this series I have attempted to show that, despite the fact that processes have been with us forever, we have a long way to go. The opportunity to exploit them, however, is still with us since many organizations are still largely dysfunctional when it comes to seamlessly doing the work required connecting to and from the outside stakeholder world. Their processes are not designed and managed holistically. Their methodologies are short sighted and partial. Many do not know what they do not know when embarking on a process venture. This series has provided the common sense for effective process management and a start for the establishment of some common practices to allow repeatable success in your enterprise.# # #
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