BPI: Don't Rinse, Repeat
Business process improvement is gaining more attention in the downturn. But companies must not expect that a fix in one area will work automatically in another. |
Our new research report on business process improvement is out for everyone to see: click here for the survey findings, and here for a look at how some IT leaders are getting it done.
The key takeaway: BPI is always a revenue driver, but it's getting heightened interest from CIOs in the current economic environment.
But there are also a few misconceptions about BPI. Barry Brunsman, a former McKinsey consultant who is now a managing director with consulting firm Alvarez & Marsal, spoke with me about an important one.
"Business change, in any form, is complex. If you think you've got a methodology or something you can pull off the shelf, you're probably wrong... The challenge is, people rightly expect that IT is something you can manage as a business; that you can understand levers and deliver it repeatedly."
But as he noted, processes vary in different departments or operating units, so finding a fix for one doesn't mean it'll translate to another.
Check out the feature to see how a few IT leaders were able to get it done. As Brunsman says, process improvement isn't easy. At the same time, CIOs and their deputies don't need to make it any harder.
Tell us: How is your IT shop approaching business process improvement? What misconceptions have you been caught up in?
