August 2003 FAQ: I’m starting to hear about Business Process Management (BPM) … what’s up with that??  

Answer: There is currently a convergence between the IT and Business sides of a company … will wonders never cease?  Both sides are moving toward “business process” as a way of looking at and organizing their worlds. (see figure one.) The business side of many companies has been moving toward an appreciation and respect for “process thinking.” Gurus like Mike Hammer are finally convincing us to look at process … and when companies look and then use process thinking, they find productivity! 

Meanwhile the IT side of the organization is moving beyond its current organizing principle of “data architecture” toward organizing itself around the business processes it supports … by use of Business Process Management Systems (BPMS). This new technology makes it possible to map, measure, simulate, manipulate, and retire business work processes. Software vendors like Savvion, Fuego, Lombardi, and IBM (along with many others) are churning out products that allow changes to be made in business process without having to “re-wire and re-pipe legacy IT systems.” Who knows, maybe someday day the business and IT guys will be able to talk clearly to each other about making business better with great IT.

By: Dutch Holland, Ph.D.

Dutch Holland, CEO of HDI, has worked as a management consultant for 30 years, helping organizations and leaders manage and implement change successfully. And if you enjoyed this short article, you'll love his new book, Red Zone Management: Changing the Rules for Pivotal Times (Dearborn Trade, Chicago, Fall 2001). Check your local bookstores or read a review at amazon.com or barnesandnoble.com! Contact Dutch at dholland@hdinc.com.

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