I was reading an Email from ebizQ on BPM Discipline and it reminded me that Business Process Management is not just about software and it is not about SOA, it is more than that.

They say that BPM technology is meaningless without management discipline. They say that to establish a successful BPM discipline, you need to ask yourself the following questions:

• Which processes matter?
• Which processes need to be improved or automated?
• Who will take charge of improving and automating key processes?
• How will technology support automation and optimization?

They say that BPM discipline involves the deliberate and collaborative definition, optimization, innovation and management of business processes.

Our thoughts…

With my sales hat on, I believe that a company is ready to purchase a solution when they know the answers to the questions above.

The processes that matter are the ones that cause the most pain within your company or they are the most expensive ones. If you know the cost of the problem, it is much easier to look at solutions.

I would bet that the processes that need to be improved or automated are the most expensive ones. Someone should figure out the costs associated with a process [although many do not].
Someone must be responsible [take charge] of improving and automating key processes.
Understanding how technology will support automation and optimization will provide the justification for your solution purchase. If the cost of the solution is greater than the cost of the problem, maybe the problem is not big enough yet.

A friend of mine, who is a CFO, keeps telling me that it would be better to do something now and fail than to study it for a couple of years to make sure you are doing it right. Even if it fails, you will learn enough to make the proper decision later.

Your Thoughts…

What do you think - Dive in and take your chances or study it to death?