Business analysis techniques in business reengineering

2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Delvin Grant
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Business Process ◽  
Credit Union ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Problem Situation ◽  
Project Risk ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Analysis Techniques ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Business Analysis

Purpose – Using 12 case studies, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the use of business analysis techniques in BPR. Some techniques are used more than others depending on the fit between the technique and the problem. Other techniques are preferred due to their versatility, easy to use, and flexibility. Some are difficult to use requiring skills that analysts do not possess. Problem analysis, and business process analysis and activity elimination techniques are preferred for process improvement projects, and technology analysis for technology problems. Root cause analysis (RCA) and activity-based costing (ABC) are seldom used. RCA requires specific skills and ABC is only applicable for discrete business activities. Design/methodology/approach – This is an exploratory case study analysis. The author analyzed 12 existing business reengineering (BR) case studies from the MIS literature. Cases include, but not limited to IBM Credit Union, Chase Manhattan Bank, Honeywell Corporation, and Cigna. Findings – The author identified eight business analysis techniques used in business process reengineering. The author found that some techniques are preferred over others. Some possible reasons are related to the fit between the analysis technique and the problem situation, the ease of use-of-use of the chosen technique, and the versatility of the technique. Some BR projects require the use of several techniques, while others require just one. It appears that the problem complexity is correlated with the number of techniques required or used. Research limitations/implications – Small sample sizes are often subject to criticism about replication and generalizability of results. However, this research is a good starting point for expanding the sample to allow more generalizable results. Future research may investigate the deeper connections between reengineering and analysis techniques and the risks of using various techniques to diagnose problems in multiple dimensions. An investigation of fit between problems and techniques could be explored. Practical implications – The author have a better idea which techniques are used more, which are more versatile, and which are difficult to use and why. Practitioners and academicians have a better understanding of the fit between technique and problem and how best to align them. It guides the selection of choosing a technique, and exposes potential problems. For example RCA requires knowledge of fishbone diagram construction and interpreting results. Unfamiliarity with the technique results in disaster and increases project risk. Understanding the issues helps to reduce project risk and increase project success, benefiting project teams, practitioners, and organizations. Originality/value – Many aspects of BR have been studied but the contribution of this research is to investigate relationships between business analysis techniques and business areas, referred to as BR dimensions. The author try to find answers to the following questions: first, are business analysis techniques used for BR project, and is there evidence that BR affects one or more areas of the business? Second, are BR projects limited to a single dimension? Third, are some techniques better suited for diagnosing problems in specific dimensions and are some techniques more difficult to use than others, if so why?; are some techniques used more than others, if so why?

Business process model patterns: state-of-the-art, research classification and taxonomy

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 972-994 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Fellmann ◽  
Agnes Koschmider ◽  
Ralf Laue ◽  
Andreas Schoknecht ◽  
Arthur Vetter
Keyword(s):  
Business Process ◽  
Process Model ◽  
Pattern Language ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Business Process Model ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research Activities ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Research Classification

Purpose Patterns have proven to be useful for documenting general reusable solutions to a commonly occurring problem. In recent years, several different business process management (BPM)-related patterns have been published. Despite the large number of publications on this subject, there is no work that provides a comprehensive overview and categorization of the published business process model patterns. The purpose of this paper is to close this gap by providing a taxonomy of patterns as well as a classification of 89 research works. Design/methodology/approach The authors analyzed 280 research articles following a structured iterative procedure inspired by the method for taxonomy development from Nickerson et al. (2013). Using deductive and inductive reasoning processes embedded in concurrent as well as joint research activities, the authors created a taxonomy of patterns as well as a classification of 89 research works. Findings In general, the findings extend the current understanding of BPM patterns. The authors identify pattern categories that are highly populated with research works as well as categories that have received far less attention such as risk and security, the ecological perspective and process architecture. Further, the analysis shows that there is not yet an overarching pattern language for business process model patterns. The insights can be used as starting point for developing such a pattern language. Originality/value Up to now, no comprehensive pattern taxonomy and research classification exists. The taxonomy and classification are useful for searching pattern works which is also supported by an accompanying website complementing the work. In regard to future research and publications on patterns, the authors derive recommendations regarding the content and structure of pattern publications.

The Cottage: providing medical respite care in a home-like environment for people experiencing homelessness

2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-64
Author(s):  
Angela Gazey ◽  
Shannen Vallesi ◽  
Karen Martin ◽  
Craig Cumming ◽  
Lisa Wood
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Treatment Compliance ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Hospital Inpatient ◽  
City Hospital ◽  
Post Discharge ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Usa

Purpose Co-existing health conditions and frequent hospital usage are pervasive in homeless populations. Without a home to be discharged to, appropriate discharge care and treatment compliance are difficult. The Medical Respite Centre (MRC) model has gained traction in the USA, but other international examples are scant. The purpose of this paper is to address this void, presenting findings from an evaluation of The Cottage, a small short-stay respite facility for people experiencing homelessness attached to an inner-city hospital in Melbourne, Australia. Design/methodology/approach This mixed methods study uses case studies, qualitative interview data and hospital administrative data for clients admitted to The Cottage in 2015. Hospital inpatient admissions and emergency department presentations were compared for the 12-month period pre- and post-The Cottage. Findings Clients had multiple health conditions, often compounded by social isolation and homelessness or precarious housing. Qualitative data and case studies illustrate how The Cottage couples medical care and support in a home-like environment. The average stay was 8.8 days. There was a 7 per cent reduction in the number of unplanned inpatient days in the 12-months post support. Research limitations/implications The paper has some limitations including small sample size, data from one hospital only and lack of information on other services accessed by clients (e.g. housing support) limit attribution of causality. Social implications MRCs provide a safe environment for individuals to recuperate at a much lower cost than inpatient admissions. Originality/value There is limited evidence on the MRC model of care outside of the USA, and the findings demonstrate the benefits of even shorter-term respite post-discharge for people who are homeless.

Lesson study outcomes: a theoretical model

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 117-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Paul Mynott
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Lesson Study ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Potential Outcomes ◽  
Limiting Factors ◽  
Educational Setting ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose Lesson study (LS) research is disadvantaged by a lack of clarity surrounding the potential outcomes an LS cycle can produce for participant learning. The purpose of this paper is to set out a model of the potential outcomes an LS cycle can achieve. The model identifies the limitations that can occur in LS groups and how these limitations impact on the overall outcomes for participants. Design/methodology/approach Case studies are used to exemplify the different outcomes in the model taken from five years of LS work in a primary school in England. The case studies shape the four different outcomes of the model, defining and contextualising the attributes and characteristics of each outcome. Findings The model presented indicates that there are four key outcomes for LS cycles, with the most common outcome being a form of limited learning. The paper explores the limitations of time, collaboration and expertise to articulate how each of these limiting factors has a bearing on the overall outcome for an LS cycle. Research limitations/implications The model is currently based on a singular educational setting. This means that each outcome needs further exploration through wider LS work in order to clarify and refine the outcome model. Practical implications The outcome model will support the development of a shared vocabulary for discussing LS cycles. By articulating where on the outcome model an LS is, it is possible for researchers to discuss how to reduce the impact of limitations and other challenges to LS, enabling research to develop a more evaluation-led approach to using LS. Originality/value The outcome model supports LS researchers in articulating the outcomes of their LS cycles with a shared vocabulary. It addresses understudied areas of LS research, namely failed and dysfunctional LS cycles and identifies that while an LS can bring the potential for participant learning, the cycle outcomes are the starting point for participant change.

Alignment patterns for process-oriented appraisals and rewards: using HRM for BPM capability building

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aygun Shafagatova ◽  
Amy Van Looy
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Business Process ◽  
Process Management ◽  
Business Processes ◽  
Multidimensional Analysis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Process Oriented ◽  
Process Context ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Employee Appraisals

PurposeWhile the business process management (BPM) literature highlights the significance of aligning employee appraisals and rewards practices with business processes, little is known about the realization. The purpose of this paper is to concretize the impact of process-oriented appraisals and rewards on business process performance and to provide empirical evidence on how organizations actually align their appraisals and rewards practices with BPM.Design/methodology/approachA mixed-method approach has been employed by combining survey results with case studies to offer first-hand evidence. Survey data have been used to quantify the real impact of process-oriented appraisals and rewards. Next, case studies with 10 organizations have allowed us to gain deeper insight into organizational practices for making appraisals and rewards more process-oriented.FindingsThe survey proves that process-oriented employee appraisals and rewards positively affect performance if different employee levels are involved. The case studies reveal similarities and differences in alignment efforts across organizations, based on pattern-matching and a multidimensional analysis, resulting in four alignment patterns.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings extend knowledge about appraisals and rewards within a business process context by providing a quantification and pattern refinement, which specifically advance a BPM-facilitating culture.Practical implicationsManagers and executives benefit from the recommendations for a gradual BPM adoption to improve the success of their business processes and their people-related practices.Originality/valueThe authors offer one of the first in-depth, cross-disciplinary studies that intend to bridge between the disciplines of BPM and human resource management (HRM).

Comparing US public university and US private sector project costs

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 220-234
Author(s):  
Kelly Strong ◽  
Scott Glick ◽  
Gazala Syhail
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Private Sector ◽  
Public University ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Cost Data ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Project Costs ◽  
The Us

Purpose This study aims to focus on the factors influencing project cost at US public universities and compares them to similar projects in the US private sector. It also presents an analysis of the potential reasons for the difference or similarities in the two sectors. Design/methodology/approach This study utilized an exploratory, comparative case study methodology performed on a small sample of public university projects and two sources of private sector cost data. Findings The results infer that most of the US public projects have comparable costs to that of their US private sector counterparts. The cost data from the university projects were further examined to explore if there were any possible relationships between the types of delivery methods used, sustainability certifications achieved and two project performance indexes – cost and duration. Research limitations/implications A more thorough analysis with a larger dataset is required to make generalizable conclusions. However, the process used in this study does provide a good overview of how facility managers could organize their own cost comparison study to evaluate their project expenditures. Practical implications This research provides a starting point for future research into the topic of US public sector project costs when compared to US private sector counterparts and the impact of delivery system and sustainability on cost of US public sector projects. Originality/value Research on this topic is scant; as such, this paper provides a starting point for future research and offers insights into the potential impacts of project delivery method and choice of following a sustainability certification option.

Engagement-oriented design: a study of New Zealand public cultural heritage institutions crowdsourcing platforms

2020 ◽  
Vol 44 (4) ◽  
pp. 887-912
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Johnson ◽  
Chern Li Liew
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Cultural Heritage ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Future Research ◽  
User Interest ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Design Elements ◽  
Design Recommendations ◽  
Starting Point

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to propose a set of design recommendations for crowdsourcing platforms with a focus on user engagement. A sample of New Zealand (NZ) cultural heritage institutions (CHIs) crowdsourcing platforms were assessed, with the aim of offering insights into how they have been designed to encourage dialogue and engagement and to sustain participation.Design/methodology/approachThe design recommendations were derived from a review of related works. Following this, 12 crowdsourcing projects overseen by libraries, museums and an archive in NZ were assessed against the recommendations through content analysis.FindingsThe recommendations were classified into four main categories. These were promote ease of use, attract and sustain user interest, foster a community of users and show users that their work is contributing to the institution and society. The findings indicated that the sample of crowdsourcing projects assessed were generally successful at displaying the credibility and significance of their projects, and promoting their crowdsourced collections. Many of the projects could nevertheless benefit from providing further support to promoting dialogues and engagement with their users and contributors and sustaining offline community interaction.Research limitations/implicationsThe content analysis conducted was focused on the functionality of design elements of the crowdsourcing platforms. The design recommendations derived from the analysis were intended as a starting point for discussion and they would need to be validated in further studies. Other relevant project information such as funding and staffing, promotion and outreach efforts were not solicited in this study. Such information could provide important contextualisation. Future research could take the form of in-depth case studies, including surveying those involved in the projects and stakeholders to investigate such contextual aspects of crowdsourcing projects.Originality/valuePrevious research on crowdsourcing in NZ CHIs consisted of single case studies. This study provides a wider snapshot and insights into digital crowdsourcing platforms from public NZ CHIs. The study findings have practical implications for project managers and Web designers involved in crowdsourcing projects, particularly those in the cultural heritage sector.

Surveys in business process management – a literature review

2015 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 692-718 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tobias Roeser ◽  
Eva-Maria Kern
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Survey Research ◽  
Business Process ◽  
Business Process Management ◽  
Process Management ◽  
Research Field ◽  
Analysis Framework ◽  
Systematic Analysis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Starting Point

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to conduct a literature review to provide an overview of surveys focussing on business process management (BPM)/business process orientation (BPO) or on BPM-related topics in order to describe the status quo, uncover trends, classify survey contributions and assess the possible further development of survey research. Design/methodology/approach – In order to achieve the research goals, the authors conduct a literature review. The authors analyze the retrieved literature by means of a developed analysis framework which allows the authors to examine the surveys from the meta-perspective and content-based perspective. Findings – A lot of surveys focussing on BPM/BPO or on BPM-related topics have been published in German- and English-speaking literature over the last years. Nevertheless, the authors find out that while some topics, countries/regions and industries are well explored others were neglected in the past. Moreover, the authors provide first evidence that companies have a different BPM demand. Finally, the authors conclude that although the implications of the incorporated surveys provide a good starting point for practitioners they seem to be too abstract to be helpful for them. Thus, the authors recommend the conduction of qualitative research endeavors to develop adaptable theories for practitioners. Research limitations/implications – This literature review focusses on survey research in BPM. It could be repeated in order to verify the findings and moreover to track progress. However, although the authors followed the steps proposed for a literature review, the selection of relevant articles might be a limitation of this paper. Originality/value – The literature review provides an overview of surveys focussing on BPM/BPO or on BPM-related topics that have been published so far. The developed and strictly applied analysis framework supports a systematic analysis of survey research and could therefore provide a detailed picture of the current state of this research field. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, no comparable literature review has been undertaken until now.

scholarly journals Integrating risk management in the innovation project

2014 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Bowers ◽  
Alireza Khorakian
Keyword(s):  
Risk Management ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Process Model ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Innovation Process ◽  
Project Risk Management ◽  
Project Risk ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Innovation Projects ◽  
Innovation Project

Purpose – While innovation has many similarities to other forms of projects it is characterised by a high failure rate and the need to stimulate creativity. More explicit risk management could help in achieving success in innovation projects. However, too much or inappropriate risk management might stifle the creativity that is core to innovation. So, what project risk management should be applied and where in the innovation project? Design/methodology/approach – A theoretical framework is proposed which combines the generic innovation process with project risk management. The framework was used to analyse the current attitudes to managing innovation risk in a series of companies. Findings – The decision points of the stage-gate innovation process model provide an effective interface for incorporating project risk concepts. The general concepts appear most relevant to innovation management though it is useful to customise them to emphasise the particular characteristics of innovation projects. The experience of using the resultant combined model in a number of diverse case studies indicates the relevance of the model in understanding attitudes towards risk management in innovation. The analysis of the case study companies suggested that risk management needs to be applied in differential manner: simple, unobtrusive techniques early in the innovation life cycle with more substantial, quantitative methods being considered for later stages. Research limitations/implications – It would be useful to extend this research by examining more case studies from other countries and industries. Practical implications – The combined innovation and risk management model provides a framework that diverse companies can appreciate. The framework offers a basis for discussing the most appropriate form of risk management in different innovation-based industries. Originality/value – Although there are many separate models for innovation and project risk management described in the literature, there is very little discussion about explicitly combining these theories. This paper aims to help fill this gap in the knowledge.

R-BPMN for abstract modeling of business process patterns

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dae-Kyoo Kim ◽  
Yeasun K. Chung
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Business Process ◽  
Process Model ◽  
Process Development ◽  
Formal Semantics ◽  
Tool Support ◽  
Tool Development ◽  
Business Process Model ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Pattern Variability

PurposeThe authors use the extension mechanism provided by the Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) to define roles, which allows roles to be fully aligned with the BPMN standard. The authors describe how a pattern can be defined in terms of roles and present the formal semantics of pattern realization and refinement to support systematic reuse of patterns in business process development.Design/methodology/approachIt is widely agreed that the use of business process patterns improves the efficiency and quality of business process development. However, few techniques are available to describe business process patterns at an appropriate level of abstraction to facilitate the reuse of patterns. To address this, this paper presents the role-based Business Process Model and Notation (R-BPMN), an extension of BPMN for abstract modeling of business process patterns based on a novel notion of role.FindingsThe authors apply R-BPMN in case studies for pattern realization and refinement and discuss tool support via an existing tool. The case studies demonstrate the practical benefits of R-BPMN in capturing pattern variability and facilitating pattern reuse.Practical implicationsThe findings imply a potential impact of R-BPMN on practical benefits when it is supported at the metamodel level in tool development.Originality/valueThis study addresses the need for abstract modeling of process patterns at the metamodel level, which facilitates the formalization of pattern variability and tool development to support various realizations of process patterns at the model level.

Business process nature assessment matrix – a novel approach to the assessment of business process nature

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Justyna Berniak-Woźny ◽  
Marek Szelągowski
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Business Process ◽  
Business Processes ◽  
Objective Assessment ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Illustrative Case ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Assessment Approach ◽  
Assessment Matrix

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to give an in-depth understanding of the nature of business processes (BPs) from the perspective of their dynamism and knowledge intensity that will allow for their correct classification and provide practical and useful implications for their more relevant and effective management. A simple and low labor-intensive BP nature assessment approach is proposed that will allow for objective assessment and internal benchmarking of all BPs in a specific context of execution based on their nature.Design/methodology/approachThe research is divided into two parts. The first comprises a systematic literature review (SLR) based on the resources of the ProQuest, Springer Nature and ScienceDirect full-text databases and the second includes illustrative case studies.FindingsBuilding on the SLR, the authors identified and reviewed 3,385 articles and defined a set of criteria by which the nature of BPs can be assessed. Further, the authors proposed a BP nature assessment matrix together with complementary questionnaires for the evaluation of process dynamism and knowledge intensity. To demonstrate the logic of this approach, two illustrative case studies were presented.Originality/valueThe article contributes to the theoretical reflection on the nature of BPs in the knowledge economy. From the practical point of view, a novel approach to the assessment of the nature of BPs is offered. The approach is open and as experience is accumulated it will develop according to the data and recommendations collected.

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