Article Analysis: Business Process Improvement
Introduction
The role of information technology (IT) in the world of business process improvement can take many forms. From an automation standpoint, no one knows more about the subject than the IT professionals within an organization. From the business unit perspective, no one knows more than the department professionals. The article selected for this analysis is titled "Whose is Process Improvement Anyway?" by Meridith Levinson. It describes two separate organizations that utilize IT in their business process improvement strategies. It further describes the hurdles that must be overcome to make IT a leader in business process improvement initiatives.
As technology improves and newer business process improvement software is developed, IT becomes more ingrained in the practice of automating outdated business practices. As one might guess would happen, lines are drawn in the proverbial sand and political infighting ensues between those that want to automate and those that see an outside organization telling them how to do their business. If not put into practice the correct way, IT led business process improvement will surely lead to fractured egos and long-term consternation between the parties involved.
In many organizations, IT is the easy target for poor performance. How often do we hear excuses such as, "Well, the network is down and IT can not seem to get it fixed" as the reason for a missed deadline? In situations such as these, the mere idea of IT leading any sort of process improvement is almost comical. Most of us have worked in an environment where IT simply could not do what we think they should. Then on the other hand, there are some IT departments that run like a European sports car. In either case, the question of what role IT should play in business process improvement is perplexing. The business unit that owns the process certainly knows their job better than the IT department. However, perhaps they need an outsider's perspective with a keen
The role of information technology (IT) in the world of business process improvement can take many forms. From an automation standpoint, no one knows more about the subject than the IT professionals within an organization. From the business unit perspective, no one knows more than the department professionals. The article selected for this analysis is titled "Whose is Process Improvement Anyway?" by Meridith Levinson. It describes two separate organizations that utilize IT in their business process improvement strategies. It further describes the hurdles that must be overcome to make IT a leader in business process improvement initiatives.
As technology improves and newer business process improvement software is developed, IT becomes more ingrained in the practice of automating outdated business practices. As one might guess would happen, lines are drawn in the proverbial sand and political infighting ensues between those that want to automate and those that see an outside organization telling them how to do their business. If not put into practice the correct way, IT led business process improvement will surely lead to fractured egos and long-term consternation between the parties involved.
In many organizations, IT is the easy target for poor performance. How often do we hear excuses such as, "Well, the network is down and IT can not seem to get it fixed" as the reason for a missed deadline? In situations such as these, the mere idea of IT leading any sort of process improvement is almost comical. Most of us have worked in an environment where IT simply could not do what we think they should. Then on the other hand, there are some IT departments that run like a European sports car. In either case, the question of what role IT should play in business process improvement is perplexing. The business unit that owns the process certainly knows their job better than the IT department. However, perhaps they need an outsider's perspective with a keen
References: Levinson, M. (2006). Whose business is process improvement anyway? CIO Magazine, November 1, 2006. Retrieved on March 4, 2007, from http://www.cio.com