BPM – IT ILI POSLOVNO PITANJE?

By: Site Default
in Uncategorized
on 25/04/2018

The right question is how to help those who is facing with this question in his company. It is quite simple, you need to carefully listen to them, and then without unnecessary phrases and theoretical explanation you should help them to realize that managing the company is nothing but managing the business process. Moreover, question on whether they manage the business process, which is the first question of many of conversatations of this type, is equally unnecessary.

Of course that all the companies manage their business process but the question is how they do it. That question, for all those who are seeking for the help regarding better managing business process, makes the biggest doubt – BPM: IT or business related question.

The existance of such dilemma leads to the fact that so many different BPM providers act on the market today, and consenquently it is pretty impossible to compare them in order to find “the best option for you business and for you needs”. Namely, on the same market, the same topic is elaborated by the consulting companies which present BPM as the theoretical concept of managing the company but also “huge” IT providers which talk about BPM, but on the level of execution, on the level of the execution of the certain business process supported by IT. Whether they all talk about BPM? Of course, yes. Wheteher one excludes the other. Of course, no. It is simply different level of the topic elaboration.

Whether we all speak the same language?

The problem which is usually present while trying to observe all the aspects of managing the company is the lack of “the mutual language” on the different level in the company. Often, the executive level and IT level do not understand each other. They talk about same topic, but usuing the different language. This misunderstanding leads to the compromise which does not satisfy neither business, nor IT “side”. Also, grate IT investements give the additional importance to IT sector, which lately in order to justify the investments realized, starts to direct the work in the whole company. In the great number of cases, it has the negative outcome. IT, even progessive, complex and sophisticate – it has to be business support. In fact, it is its principale role, to give the support to business, to make it more profitable, to provide it with the right information in the right moment.

BPM brings to focus to what is important in business – business.

While talking about this, it is inevitably that in one moment we will hear “How XYZ company which is in the same business, works that well. Can we do the same.” Referent model, the best practice etc. Unfortunately, sometimes the motive is only positive thing in the whole story. Why? It is certain that the best (industry) practice is always welcome while searching for the way to improve your own business. If you decide to apply the best industry practice in your company, referent model will facilitate, to the great extent, the phase of creating of the future state. However, before that decision, aks yourself the few question:

- What are the conditions in which the best industry practice makes the good result in the respective company?

- What kind of business goals were setted up for the company who applied this practice?

- What is the business culture of the entity in which this best practice gives the results?

- Whether this model is applicable in the conditions existing in your company?

I am of the opinion that the problem is even more complex. Application of the best practice sometimes is just the alibi, just on the first sight the easier way to achieve the result. Imagine it as the journey. The best paractise is one of the possible ways to make that journey. However, the choice of the best practice means not to stop on the places where you should. Those places are – your own company, your own business, your own employees.

Immense value of each company lies in the knowledge of their employees. Sometimes, the great business soultions stay unapplicable due to the fact that they have not been presented to adequate level of management, where those decision could be made. Sometimes, those who have the idea, do not have to whome to present it. Sometimes, nobody understands them – remember the language barrier mentioned previously. That could be also one of the problem, as no one knows your business better than you.

Therefore, start talking about problems with your employees, listen to them and accept their ideas for development. Make the atmosphere in your company which is compatible with the idea that managing the business process is the responsibility of everyone.

Finally, let the IT guys and girls to do their job, to support your business process with the instruments which will make Business Process Menagement (BPM) such an easy question.

BPM - IT OR BUSINESS RELATED QUESTION?

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