| Business Processes are a group of activities which | | | | people have been suitably trained on it and rather |
| are recurring in nature and contribute significantly | | | | than change the way of working of the company, |
| to the growth and development of the business. | | | | the software conforms to the process that you |
| Managing these activities efficiently so that | | | | already follow. The automation should be |
| maximum business benefit can be captured is | | | | complimentary to business and not anti-productive. |
| better known as Business Process Management. | | | | It is imperative to remember that Business |
| If you think that Business Process Management | | | | Process Management is suppose to save time and |
| deals with mundane tasks, you are very far from | | | | resources in an organization and should be |
| the truth. Large organizations with good business | | | | approached with that principle in mind. |
| process management skills have even managed | | | | Adherence to Business Process throughout the |
| to put an abstract activity such as Innovation as | | | | organization is a must for any organization to gets |
| part of their process management cycle. Even | | | | it full impact. Developing or outlining a business |
| thinking or strategizing for the future is part of a | | | | process without true permeation with the |
| Business Process. Thus the first step in | | | | company, is like giving a bird wings but asking it |
| understanding Business Process Management is to | | | | not to fly. It is successful implementation and |
| understand the range of activities which qualify as | | | | following of a set business process which will save |
| Business Process and only then can they be | | | | time and money in the organization and bring |
| documented and subsequently managed. | | | | about greater efficiencies. Following business |
| The first step when implementing Business | | | | processes also helps in getting the most out of |
| Processes in any organization is to understand the | | | | the people employed in the company without |
| lifecycle of a business process. Key questions | | | | going back to the drawing board each time a |
| which need to be answered are 'when does the | | | | familiar situation comes up. |
| process get triggered?', 'which business activity | | | | The term Management in Business Process |
| does it impact?', 'what are the steps in business | | | | Management makes this activity an ongoing one. |
| process?', 'What the key parameters against | | | | One a business process has been set and put in |
| which they can be measured?' and so on. | | | | automated or semi-automated motion, it is critical |
| Once these key questions are answered and | | | | that the process is reviewed at regular intervals |
| documented, you can put see the outline of a | | | | to evaluate the affectivity of the process. A |
| defined business process. All business activities are | | | | facility to maintain feedback from users of the |
| made up of multiple business processes and | | | | process much be implemented and periodical |
| business process management is to make sure | | | | review of the process and feedback from users |
| that these processes are working together for | | | | will help in implementing changes and improving the |
| the greater benefit of the organizations. Some of | | | | process on an ongoing basis. A mature |
| the key points to consider when setting up | | | | organization is one which has managed to |
| business processes are discussed in the rest of | | | | implement the Business Process of Managing |
| this article. | | | | Business Processes effectively.The Business |
| Keep in mind that these processes will be | | | | Process Management process has been an |
| managed by people. A business process should | | | | established business activity for quite some time. |
| not be very rigid; neither should it be too open | | | | If you are keen to ensure that you harness the |
| ended. There should be some room for innovation | | | | complete benefits of Business Process |
| within the process as well as that is the business | | | | Management in your organization, you can bench |
| process can be improved over a period of time. | | | | mark it against some of the leading standards |
| Many management gurus consider successful | | | | such as ISO 9001:2000, SEI CMM and Six Sigma. |
| organizations those which have captured the DNA | | | | Some industries have industry specific business |
| of a business process within their working | | | | process management certifications. Benchmarking |
| framework. | | | | allows you to go full throttle in business process |
| Simple documentation and automation also makes | | | | management as well as provide you excellent |
| business process automation work in the long run. | | | | ammunition to increase the value of your |
| If you are using software to automate your | | | | organization in front of customers, suppliers and |
| business process, it should be made sure that | | | | employees. |