Leveraging big-data for business process analytics

2015 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 215-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alejandro Vera-Baquero ◽  
Ricardo Colomo Palacios ◽  
Vladimir Stantchev ◽  
Owen Molloy
Keyword(s):  
Big Data ◽  
Process Improvement ◽  
Business Process ◽  
Business Performance ◽  
Business Processes ◽  
Heterogeneous Systems ◽  
Map Reduce ◽  
Heterogeneous Environments ◽  
Business Process Improvement ◽  
Content Type

Purpose – This paper aims to present a solution that enables organizations to monitor and analyse the performance of their business processes by means of Big Data technology. Business process improvement can drastically influence in the profit of corporations and helps them to remain viable. However, the use of traditional Business Intelligence systems is not sufficient to meet today ' s business needs. They normally are business domain-specific and have not been sufficiently process-aware to support the needs of process improvement-type activities, especially on large and complex supply chains, where it entails integrating, monitoring and analysing a vast amount of dispersed event logs, with no structure, and produced on a variety of heterogeneous environments. This paper tackles this variability by devising different Big-Data-based approaches that aim to gain visibility into process performance. Design/methodology/approach – Authors present a cloud-based solution that leverages (BD) technology to provide essential insights into business process improvement. The proposed solution is aimed at measuring and improving overall business performance, especially in very large and complex cross-organisational business processes, where this type of visibility is hard to achieve across heterogeneous systems. Findings – Three different (BD) approaches have been undertaken based on Hadoop and HBase. We introduced first, a map-reduce approach that it is suitable for batch processing and presents a very high scalability. Secondly, we have described an alternative solution by integrating the proposed system with Impala. This approach has significant improvements in respect with map reduce as it is focused on performing real-time queries over HBase. Finally, the use of secondary indexes has been also proposed with the aim of enabling immediate access to event instances for correlation in detriment of high duplication storage and synchronization issues. This approach has produced remarkable results in two real functional environments presented in the paper. Originality/value – The value of the contribution relies on the comparison and integration of software packages towards an integrated solution that is aimed to be adopted by industry. Apart from that, in this paper, authors illustrate the deployment of the architecture in two different settings.

Knowledge acquisition through process mapping

2016 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  
pp. 302-323 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gareth R.T. White ◽  
Svetlana Cicmil
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Acquisition ◽  
Process Improvement ◽  
Business Process ◽  
Business Processes ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Process Mapping ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Business Process Improvement ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Process Improvements

Purpose – Business improvement initiatives have benefit for both an organisation’s operational effectiveness and its knowledge acquisition capabilities. These have a synergistic effect upon the ability to gain and maintain competitive advantage. Among the multitude of approaches that can be adopted process mapping (PMapping) is widely used. The purpose of this paper is to examine the utilisation of PMapping for undertaking business process improvement and the resultant acquisition of knowledge among those that are involved in its performance and the subsequent use of process maps (PMaps). Design/methodology/approach – Adopting the notion of " knowledge as knowing " and Activity Theory as the research framework, a four-year Participatory Action Research study of three organisations was conducted. Data were gathered through cyclically developed semi-structured interviews, on-site observation and instantaneously sampled field notes. Findings – It finds that PMapping is a useful technique for conducting business process improvements and acquiring knowledge of organisations and their people. It also finds that PMaps are useful knowledge repositories that have value beyond aiding the development of improved business processes. Socialisation is a key determinant of knowledge coproduction and transfer. This study finds that it occurs in formal and informal modes between individuals engaged in PMapping. Research limitations/implications – The choice of PMapping technique may have significant influence upon the knowledge that is acquired by individuals and organisations during business process improvement initiatives. Future research should explore the relationship between PMapping methods, their knowledge-generative potential and the usability of the resultant PMaps. Practical implications – Organisations undertaking business process improvement initiatives should take account of those factors that mediate its undertaking and its knowledge-generative potential. The objectives of improvement initiatives and of specific activities such as PMapping need to be carefully considered. Changes in objectives need clear communication and justification, and the purpose and benefit of such changes must be weighed against the potential detrimental effect that they may have upon the workforce. Inconsiderate goals setting and changing can lead to individuals coming under significant psychological and sociological pressures. Originality/value – This research furthers the understanding of knowledge acquisition and business process improvement in non-manufacturing environments. It identifies the challenges involved in adopting PMapping as a business improvement tool. It also provides insight into the use of the tool as a technique for fostering knowledge acquisition in individuals.

Business process improvement methods in healthcare: a comparative study

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 887-908 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ehab Seed Ahmed ◽  
Mohammad Nazir Ahmad ◽  
Siti Hajar Othman
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Process Improvement ◽  
Business Process ◽  
Domain Knowledge ◽  
Business Processes ◽  
Research Community ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Business Process Improvement ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Related Literature

PurposeAccording to the literature concerned with this study, less than satisfactory outcomes have been achieved through implementing business process improvements methods (BPIMs) in industries, in general, and in healthcare, in particular. The existing methods used need to be enhanced in order to create more effective outcomes. There has also been a lack of studies documenting gaps or shortfalls in implementing BPIMs, to be presented to the BPI research community. Therefore, researchers of this paper have attempted to fill gaps between theory and practice. On the contrary, there is also a need to link practical outcomes in the healthcare domain with those of the BPI research community. The purpose of this paper is to review popular BPIMs, techniques and tools applied in the healthcare domain; it seeks to examine and highlight their significant roles, clarify their pros and cons, and find opportunities to enhance their impact on the achievement of more sustainable improvements in the healthcare domain.Design/methodology/approachThis study has been carried out by using a methodology combining an in-depth literature review with a comparison framework, which is called as the “Framework for Comparing Business Process Improvement Methods.” The framework is composed of seven dimensions and has been adapted from four recognized, related frameworks. In addition to the in-depth review of related literature and the adapted comparison framework, researchers have conducted several interviews with healthcare BPI practitioners in different hospitals, to attain their opinions of BPI methods and tools used in their practices.FindingsThe main results have indicated that significant improvements have been achieved by implementing BPIMs in the healthcare domain according to related literature. However, there were some shortfalls in the existing methods that need to be resolved. The most important of these has been the shortfall in representing and analyzing targeted domain knowledge during improvement phases. The tool currently used for representing the domain, specifically flowcharts, is very abstract and does not present the domain in a clear form. The flowchart tool also fails to clearly present the separation of concerns between business processes and the information systems processes that support a business in a given domain.Practical implicationsThe findings of this study can be useful for BPI practitioners and researchers, mainly within the healthcare domain. The findings can help these groups to understand BPIMs shortfalls and encourage them to consider how BPIMs can be potentially improved.Originality/valueThis researchers of this paper have proposed a comparison framework for highlighting popular BPIMs in the healthcare domain, along with their uses and shortfalls. In addition, they have conducted a deep literature review based on the practical results obtained from different healthcare institutions implementing unique BPIMs around the world. There has also been valuable interview feedback attained from BPI leaders of specific hospitals in Saudi Arabia. This combination is expected to contribute to knowledge of BPIMs from both theoretical and practical points of view.

Estimating performance from capabilities in business process improvement

2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 1099-1117 ◽  
Author(s):  
Boyd A. Nicholds ◽  
John P.T. Mo
Keyword(s):  
Process Improvement ◽  
Business Process ◽  
Expected Improvement ◽  
Management Decision ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Performance Gain ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Business Process Improvement ◽  
Improvement Project ◽  
Content Type

Purpose The research indicates there is a positive link between the improvement capability of an organisation and the intensity of effort applied to a business process improvement (BPI) project or initiative. While a degree of stochastic variation in applied effort to any particular improvement project may be expected there is a clear need to quantify the causal relationship, to assist management decision, and to enhance the chance of achieving and sustaining the expected improvement targets. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach The paper presents a method to obtain the function that estimates the range of applicable effort an organisation can expect to be able to apply based on their current improvement capability. The method used analysed published data as well as regression analysis of new data points obtained from completed process improvement projects. Findings The level of effort available to be applied to a process improvement project can be expressed as a regression function expressing the possible range of achievable BPI performance within 90 per cent confidence limits. Research limitations/implications The data set applied by this research is limited due to constraints during the research project. A more accurate function can be obtained with more industry data. Practical implications When the described function is combined with a separate non-linear function of performance gain vs effort a model of performance gain for a process improvement project as a function of organisational improvement capability is obtained. The probability of success in achieving performance targets may be estimated for a process improvement project. Originality/value The method developed in this research is novel and unique and has the potential to be applied to assessing an organisation’s capability to manage change.

scholarly journals Understanding the value of big data in supply chain management and its business processes

2018 ◽  
Vol 38 (7) ◽  
pp. 1589-1614 ◽  
Author(s):  
Morten Brinch
Keyword(s):  
Big Data ◽  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chain Management ◽  
Business Process ◽  
Business Processes ◽  
Value Theory ◽  
Value Capture ◽  
Chain Management ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Process Perspective

Purpose The value of big data in supply chain management (SCM) is typically motivated by the improvement of business processes and decision-making practices. However, the aspect of value associated with big data in SCM is not well understood. The purpose of this paper is to mitigate the weakly understood nature of big data concerning big data’s value in SCM from a business process perspective. Design/methodology/approach A content-analysis-based literature review has been completed, in which an inductive and three-level coding procedure has been applied on 72 articles. Findings By identifying and defining constructs, a big data SCM framework is offered using business process theory and value theory as lenses. Value discovery, value creation and value capture represent different value dimensions and bring a multifaceted view on how to understand and realize the value of big data. Research limitations/implications This study further elucidates big data and SCM literature by adding additional insights to how the value of big data in SCM can be conceptualized. As a limitation, the constructs and assimilated measures need further empirical evidence. Practical implications Practitioners could adopt the findings for conceptualization of strategies and educational purposes. Furthermore, the findings give guidance on how to discover, create and capture the value of big data. Originality/value Extant SCM theory has provided various views to big data. This study synthesizes big data and brings a multifaceted view on its value from a business process perspective. Construct definitions, measures and research propositions are introduced as an important step to guide future studies and research designs.

Using MetaProi to Improve Business Processes

2011 ◽  
pp. 175-212
Author(s):  
Ned Kock
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Learning ◽  
Process Improvement ◽  
Business Process ◽  
Business Processes ◽  
Organizational Processes ◽  
Business Process Improvement ◽  
Knowledge Communication

In my earlier discussion in this book about business process improvement and organizational learning, I have shown that business process improvement has the potential to foster interfunctional knowledge communication and, consequently, organizational learning. In previous chapters of this book, I have analyzed business process improvement efforts that led to levels of knowledge communication not normally seen in routine organizational processes. Those business process improvement efforts have all been carried out through business process improvement groups.

scholarly journals Exploring potentials of digital nudging for business processes

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 1329-1347
Author(s):  
Sandra Bammert ◽  
Ulrich Matthias König ◽  
Maximilian Roeglinger ◽  
Tabitha Wruck
Keyword(s):  
Process Improvement ◽  
Business Process ◽  
Process Management ◽  
Business Processes ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Process Improvements ◽  
Business Environments ◽  
Digital Nudging ◽  
Agile Process

PurposeBusiness process improvement is vital for organizations as business environments are becoming ever more volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous. Process improvement methods help organizations sustain competitiveness. Many existing methods, however, do not fit emerging business environments as they entail initiatives with long implementation times, high investments and limited involvement of process participants. What is needed are agile process improvement approaches. The purpose of this paper is to explore the potential of digital nudging – a concept offering tools that lead individuals to better decisions – to improve business processes.Design/methodology/approachUsing process deviance as theoretical lens, an online experiment with 473 participants is conducted. Within the experiment, business processes and digital nudges are implemented to examine whether digital nudging can mitigate the weaknesses of existing process improvement methods.FindingsDigital nudging can influence the decisions of process participants and entail positive process deviance that leads to process improvement opportunities. Further, the research gives a first hint on the effectiveness of different digital nudges and lays the foundation for future research.Research limitations/implicationsSince exploring a completely new field of research and conducting the experiment in a synthetic environment, the paper serves as a first step toward the combination of digital nudging, business process improvements and positive process deviance.Originality/valueThe major achievement reported in this paper is the exploration of a new field of research. Thus, digital nudging shapes up as a promising foundation for agile process improvement, a discovery calling for future research at the intersection of digital nudging and business process management.

scholarly journals Simulasi Proses Bisnis Pondok Pesantren Menggunakan Anylogic Berdasarkan Metode Business Process Improvement (BPI)

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 138
Author(s):  
Nikmatur Rizqi ◽  
Ulfa Hidayati ◽  
Teguh Arief Ramadhan ◽  
M. Ainul Yaqin
Keyword(s):  
Process Improvement ◽  
Business Process ◽  
Business Processes ◽  
Boarding School ◽  
Boarding Schools ◽  
Process Models ◽  
Graphical Form ◽  
Educational Institutions ◽  
Business Process Improvement ◽  
Flow Models

Islamic boarding schools are traditional Islamic educational institutions in which religious values are taught as guidelines to be applied in everyday life. Islamic boarding schools are also analogous to enterprise in which there must be a business process to achieve the objectives of the establishment of boarding schools themselves. The design of business processes in Islamic boarding schools may be able to produce the desired results but sometimes it is not in accordance with the desired costs or desired time. These problems can be overcome by running a business process simulation, which aims to help the analysis and understanding of business process models. Anylogic is used in this study to simulate the boarding school business processes and use the Business Process Improvement (BPI) method to analyze problems in business processes and methods BPMN (Business Process and Notation Model) as a tool to describe or create business process flow models in graphical form.

Big data analysis on the business process and management for the store layout and bundling sales

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (7) ◽  
pp. 1783-1801 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shu-hsien Liao ◽  
Yi-Shan Tasi
Keyword(s):  
Data Mining ◽  
Big Data ◽  
Data Analysis ◽  
Business Process ◽  
Process Management ◽  
Business Processes ◽  
Analysis Data ◽  
Database System ◽  
Big Data Analysis ◽  
Content Type

Purpose In the retailing industry, database is the time and place where a retail transaction is completed. E-business processes are increasingly adopting databases that can obtain in-depth customers and sales knowledge with the big data analysis. The specific big data analysis on a database system allows a retailer designing and implementing business process management (BPM) to maximize profits, minimize costs and satisfy customers on a business model. Thus, the research of big data analysis on the BPM in the retailing is a critical issue. The paper aims to discuss this issue. Design/methodology/approach This paper develops a database, ER model, and uses cluster analysis, C&R tree and the a priori algorithm as approaches to illustrate big data analysis/data mining results for generating business intelligence and process management, which then obtain customer knowledge from the case firm’s database system. Findings Big data analysis/data mining results such as customer profiles, product/brand display classifications and product/brand sales associations can be used to propose alternatives to the case firm for store layout and bundling sales business process and management development. Originality/value This research paper is an example to develop the BPM of database model and big data/data mining based on insights from big data analysis applications for store layout and bundling sales in the retailing industry.

Business process improvement: empirical assessment and extensions

2008 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 778-802 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samia M. Siha ◽  
Germaine H. Saad
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Process Improvement ◽  
Business Process ◽  
Operations Management ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Business Process Improvement ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Implementation Guidelines ◽  
Improvement Programs

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to survey and analyze current process improvement (PI) approaches, their empirical results reported in the literature, and develop accordingly a conceptual framework and implementation guidelines.Design/methodology/approachA literature review of the popular business database to search for case studies and empirical research on PI methods was conducted. The empirical evidence on success and failure factors were inferred and tabulated. Based on synthesis of the lessons learned from this empirical evidence along with concepts drawn from economics, and operations management, a conceptual framework is developed.FindingsIt was found that the framework would serve as a diagnostic tool for identification of, and recovering from root causes of problems and inefficiencies faced in business environments. The framework proposed synthesizes and extends earlier PI tools and basic approaches used for mitigating disruptions faced in operations practice. The framework design consists of three main phases: Specify; Analyze; and Monitor closely. Accordingly, it is denoted by SAM.Practical implicationsDecision makers can be altered to both the success factors and causes of failure of different PI approaches, and a framework is provided along with implementation guidelines that help assure practical effectiveness of PI efforts. The guidelines provided for practicing managers comprise two categories: specific; tool‐based, and general; system‐based.Originality/valueThe contribution of this paper is two fold: first, empirical evidence on the drivers of success and failure of four main PI approaches, were synthesized. These include: six sigma, benchmarking, reengineering and process mapping. Second, based on this empirical evidence, a conceptual framework that guides both the choice and implementation of business process improvement programs is developed. The proposed framework and its implementation guidelines help assure actual effectiveness of PI practice.

Exploring the relationship between business process improvement and employees’ behavior

2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (7) ◽  
pp. 1044-1062 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danica Bakotic ◽  
Ante Krnic
Keyword(s):  
Software Development ◽  
Knowledge Sharing ◽  
Process Improvement ◽  
Business Process ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Business Process Improvement ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Process Improvements ◽  
Overall Performance ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to empirically investigate and clarify the relationship between business process improvement and employees’ behavior. More precisely, the purpose is to test whether a business process improvement initiative has a positive impact on performance and employees’ behavior, namely, motivation, communication and knowledge sharing. Design/methodology/approach The empirical research of this paper was conducted in the year 2013 in an ICT company on 52 employees who worked in the company’s R&D Centre. Business process improvement is analyzed in the change of work method for software development. Two projects of software development were observed. The data about the projects were collected by using the company’s documentation. The data about employees’ behavior were collected by a specially designed questionnaire. Findings Business process improvement led to better results and overall performance. Furthermore, it was found that business process improvement enhanced three important elements of employees’ behavior. These are motivation, communication and knowledge sharing. Research limitations/implications The main limitations of this study are small research sample, focusing on just the way of business process improvement and on only one company. Therefore, the results cannot be generalized and considered as being generally accepted. Practical implications The findings of this study could be useful for ICT companies because it shows the benefits of the Kanban method. Originality/value The major contribution of this study is to prove the positive impact of business process improvement initiatives on overall performance and on the special elements of employees’ behavior. This cognition enhances the existing knowledge on business process improvements.

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