Valeska I. Jacques

Most businesses fit in one of these 5 stages of the BPM Cycle.

Stage 0 - (Unaware)

People are unaware that business rules have a value worth contemplating.

Business Rules are buried in code, documents, and people’s heads. You lack the ability to accurately predict how change would impact your business. What’s probably taking place in your business is that there is talk about harvesting business rules from your staff, documents, or mining it through the software code that is used to run your day to day activities, but that has yet to happen. You may even lack a well drafted working Operations Manual. Do any of the following sound familiar? 

• Your organization has outgrown your current technology
• Your staff and or clients are frustrated with delayed deliveries, human error, and miscommunication while providing service.
• It’s difficult to quickly access the information you need
• You implemented a business process, but no one uses it.
• Good policy change doesn’t get implemented
• It’s challenging to track and follow up with sales leads
• You don’t have the in house resources or time to keep your website updated.
• Customers can’t seem to get answers to critical questions in a timely matter.
• Processes are managed by different teams, thus increasing the chances of tasks slipping through the cracks and or important issues lost in translation.
• You know the direction you want to lead your business, but are held back due to operational issues.
• You are trying to figure out an internet strategy that compliments your business plan.

These are just a few of the problems small business face at the “Unaware” stage

Its ok! There is hope once you find PURPOSE! 

At this stage there is an understanding that there IS value in establishing business rules and executing day to day operations based on these rules. These rules generally exist in a digital repository accessible and managed manually and available only to top level executives in documents or spreadsheets. The ability to predict the impact of these rules is low. Analyzing your business rules at this stage is possible, but time consuming and often not done at all. You understand the value and organizational efficiency inherent in business rules and you aspire to implement an intelligent, forward thinking BPM system but lack know how, time, strategy, or training to execute this initiative.

As companies continue to rely on technology to drive business growth, they are becoming increasingly aware of the benefits effective performance management can bring to all areas of the organization.

Evaluating or seeking to implement BPM software

Performing an organizational self-assessment is a great place to start

Can your company independently assess its needs and requirements? Most companies find this to be quite difficult. Does your company have in-house the expertise, both technically and functionally, to evaluate the vendor offerings in the market today? BPM is still a relatively arcane science; its blend of business process and technology makes it legitimately a “hybrid” specialty.

The objective to optimize an area which has been identified as an area for improvement – if you don’t know this area you need a mapping session (call 2 action contact  a Uvium consultant to Schedule a mapping session)

Level 2 (Repeatable):

“Employees rely on knowing the rules. If you’re inconsistent, they’ll always wonder how to make you happy, which is obviously not as productive as doing a great job based on clear performance standards.” Alpha Male Syndrome, Kate Ludlam, Eddie Erlanson

At this stage an organization begins to aggressively analyze their business rules and change is driven by this analysis. This happens by creating a custom documentation process that clearly defines the individual role of BPM and incorporates accountability and structure to integrate and analyze established rules on a continuous basis. Analysis of your business rules is possible and automated, yet the ability to predict the impact of these rules is still low. At this point you probably adopted some BPM software and are capable of defining, changing, and implementing business rules.

Early adopters of BPM systems are achieving top-quartile performance results in a range of areas from finance and accounting, budgeting, financial reporting, to planning, and performance measurement, to name a few. In conjunction with solid business intelligence and web centric infrastructure, a new robust BPM system if implemented and administered effectively can support new and improved processes and sustain rapid growth.

Experience double digit growth, increased efficiency, eliminate bottle necks – find out how in a Uvium work session.

What we do in a work session

Identification and prioritization of strategic initiatives

Project scoping and kick-off

Team development

Requirements definition for supporting technology

Design specifications for supporting technology

Risk Analysis

Test Planning and Test Scenario development

Implementation Planning

Work-in-Progress Reviews throughout the project lifecycle

Post-implementation Reviews

Level 3 (Defined):

Robert Shapiro, former Chairman and CEO of Monsanto said:

“If you could get every person to be 30% more effective in performing their jobs, not by working harder and not by working smarter in ways that have already been tapped, but by becoming 30% more effective in working together, you’d be way ahead of you industry.”

At this level an organization usually displays an active rules management system which takes advantage of forward thinking mass collaboration strategies. Implementation of these strategies achieves high levels of success from the practice of sharing business rules past previous executive boundaries. The overall benefits of BPM have become very clear and measurable. These proven rules and techniques can now be standardized and made readily available throughout the whole organization.

Level 4 (Measurable):

Here the ability to predict the impact of rule changes on business is possible, and directly associated with business metrics that correlate with organizational efficiency and growth.   At this point you understand how business rules influence your client base, can predict how managing rules realize future profits, and better understand where time is spent amongst your staff so bottle necks can be eliminated.

At this level you have a well established BPM system that runs smoothly with web centric real-time access without boundaries for mass collaboration and synergy amongst all involved members. The business is thriving following intelligent forward thinking rules. By consistent measurement you improve operational efficiency and predictive decision management. You are poised to react quickly to new market opportunities and generate maximum return on future BPM initiatives. 

Leave us a comment below on what you think!