How to Improve Business Performance Through Business Process Management
Business processes constitute a significant portion of an Business Management Process operating costs. And the more bureaucratic an organization is - the greater the potential to reduce business management process operating costs.
Business Management silos (hierarchical structure) can be devastating to an business management process performance and cost structure. Walls need to be torn down, and the internal customer/supplier model embraced.

Unfortunately, line and staff departments have become too myopic or insular. Business management Process is imperative in order to manage and improve cross-functional business processes management. And the more business management process centric an organization is - the more performance-driven it will be. If you think you can be customer-centric, without being process-centric - think again. Business Processes management must put the customer first.
 

Business Process Management Introduction 

The stark reality is that processes (especially cross-functional business management processes) are usually not documented, not systematically and continually improved, and not managed. So why improve and manage business processes? Simply, Business management processes are the fundamental building blocks for achieving business performance, and streamlined business processes are critical to building and maintaining a competitive edge. 
When I ask a customer to give us a snapshot of their business, the discussion usually starts off with their business history, an overview of products and services, core capabilities, and even their customer base. Along the way, an organization chart is typically thrown into the fray. But, perhaps the most revealing snapshot of all is an “organizational map” that shows the interrelationship of company-wide key business management processes.
An organizational map is a top-level blueprint of the fundamental structure for an business management system. This macro-level flowchart shows the interrelationship of business management processes at a twenty-thousand foot elevation. It is the foundation from which to build an agile, competitive organization. Yet, alarmingly few organizations have taken the time to construct this “capstone” document. 
Business management Process begins the management process of visualizing the organization as a whole - determining how one aspect of the system affects another. Leaders need to extend their vision beyond the project or function - beyond their function - to see the organization through a new set of glasses. They must focus on those key business management processes that affect business management objectives and critical success factors. Leaders must be visionary, and they must see the world anew. 
Business management Process Focus Areas & Tools 

There are three general focus areas. These are:

(1) making business management processes effective - producing the desired performance;
(2) making business management processes efficient - minimizing the resources needed; and
(3) making business management processes adaptable - being able to adapt to changing stakeholder and customer business needs. 
An integrated holistic approach is essential to business management process. Business Process mapping and flowcharting (down to the task level) are central to this effort. You can use a combination of several process flowcharting techniques -process maps, block diagrams, standard flowcharts, functional flowcharts, and geographic flowcharts. But remember, the journey starts with an “organization map - a macro-level flowchart.” 

Business management Process maps provide a composite overview of the business management process, from an organizational context. Block diagrams provide a quick overview of a business management process. Business management process Flowcharts are used to analyze the detailed interrelationships of a business management process, and geographic flowcharts illustrate the business management process flow among locations. 

Business management Process Roadmap 

A systematic approach (roadmap) is needed to improve business management performance. There are proven strategies, methods, and tools to create a streamlined organization with a significantly lower cost structure. An integrated business management process approach should link the business organization’s mission, culture, business objectives, and key business management processes.   The business management process system methodology consists of ten BPM integrated tools and/or steps:
Bureaucracy elimination - remove unnecessary administrative tasks, approvals, and paperwork.
Duplication elimination - remove identical activities that are performed at different parts of the business management process.
Value-added assessment - evaluate every activity in the business management process to determine its contribution to meeting stakeholder/customer requirements.
Task elimination/simplification - reduce the overall complexity of the business management process.
Business management Process cycle time reduction - determine ways to compress cycle time to meet or exceed stakeholder/customer expectations, with fewer resources.
Error proofing - make it difficult to do the activity incorrectly, while standardizing the activity at the same time.
Problem definition/solving - utilize a problem solving methodology (roadmap) that focuses on identifying and eliminating root causes.
Technology/automation considerations - apply technology platforms and enterprise/legacy applications in innovative ways.
Business management process reengineering - use a radical approach to change the business management process, when the previous streamlining methods have not provided the desired results.
Business management Performance measurement - identify appropriate business management performance measures that will paint a composite picture of the business management process performance.

Business Management Process Absolutes 

There are a dozen business management process absolutes that must be considered when you embark on a business management process journey. You might also view these as “best practices.” Either way, these are

 

critical to success:

Ensure management commitment upfront Create an environment where departments are partners, not competitors Reward cross-functional collaboration

Take a disciplined, integrated approach to business management process improvement
Allocate resources based on business management process needs

Link business management process improvement initiatives to your strategic plan

Identify critical business management issues to drive business process improvement
Ensure that product and service processes are customer-driven
Put comprehensive and reliable business management process metrics in place
Define and implement strategies to keep each business management process measure in control
Measure levels of internal/external customer satisfaction for each business management process
Reward individuals for their contributions to business management process improvement

 

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