Best Practices in Business Process ManagementBusiness process management is a top priority for organizations today. The BPM market is hot and it is important to know what the basic steps of BPM strategy are and who the vendors are and what they offer. The scope of what BPM is and what it can do for your organization is changing. There is still a lot of hype, so everyone needs to know who is doing what, and how well it works. Every organization needs a BPM strategy and a comprehensive deployment plan.The Doculab's definition of BPM is: "BPM solutions are frameworks used to develop, deploy`, monitor, and optimize multiple types of process automation applications, including processes that involve both systems and people."DoculabsDL_8fd6a26e-d491-11e4-87bd-51af6a7ac850 Bill ChambersBill Chambers ... spoke on this topic at BrainStorm's Business Process Management Conference in Chicago.He is a principal analyst at Doculabs. Chambers has 20 years of experience providing analysis and consulting, with expertise in business process management, content management, customer service, marketing automation and other emerging business technologies. Chambers works with Fortune 1000 clients to identify the most appropriate technology solutions for their applications. He also designs and conducts evaluations of relevant solutions through Doculabs’ technology assessment evaluations.BPM InstituteBPMI_8fd6a4bc-d491-11e4-87bd-51af6a7ac850Jon HuntressSpecial Events Correspondent_8fd6a5ca-d491-11e4-87bd-51af6a7ac850To outline the basic steps of BPM strategy_8fd6a688-d491-11e4-87bd-51af6a7ac850Current StateAssess the current state_8fd6a746-d491-11e4-87bd-51af6a7ac8501BPM ConsultantsProject SponsorsThe first objective for the current state assessment is to achieve consensus on a BPM definition and determine the business and IT goals for the project. The data needs to be collected for defining the requirements and documenting the current processes and problems. During this assessment process, identify the key BPM applications for each business unit. This is the time to get the BPM consultants in and have sessions with all the stakeholders and sponsors.DefinitionAchieve consensus on a BPM definition_8fd6a804-d491-11e4-87bd-51af6a7ac8501.1GoalsDetermine the business and IT goals for the project_8fd6a99e-d491-11e4-87bd-51af6a7ac8501.2DataCollect data to define the requirements_8fd6aa66-d491-11e4-87bd-51af6a7ac8501.3Processes & ProblemsDocument the current processes and problems_8fd6ab24-d491-11e4-87bd-51af6a7ac8501.4BPM ApplicationsIdentify the key BPM applications for each business unit_8fd6abf6-d491-11e4-87bd-51af6a7ac8501.5RequirementsDefine enterprise requirements_8fd6acb4-d491-11e4-87bd-51af6a7ac8502VendorsThe key objectives for the second step, Enterprise Requirements Definition, are to identify the requirements for all types of BPM applications important to the company. Categorize the requirements into BPM components and prioritize the requirements with input from business and IT. Also identify what needs to be built and what needs to be bought at this time. At this point, the vendor requirements should be known.IdentificationIdentify the requirements for all types of BPM applications_8fd6ad72-d491-11e4-87bd-51af6a7ac8502.1CategorizationCategorize the requirements into BPM components_8fd6ae3a-d491-11e4-87bd-51af6a7ac8502.2PrioritizationPrioritize the requirements with input from business and IT_8fd6af02-d491-11e4-87bd-51af6a7ac8502.3Business UnitsIT SpecialistsDevelopments & PurchasesIdentify what needs to be built and what needs to be bought_8fd6afc0-d491-11e4-87bd-51af6a7ac8502.4DesignConceptual design, reference architecture_8fd6b07e-d491-11e4-87bd-51af6a7ac8503The third step in the methodology is Conceptual Design and Reference Architecture which include the objectives of developing a conceptual design that identifies key components required to meet the enterprise BPM requirements. In addition, build a model for the enterprise current state. Develop use cases for high-priority BPM applications and an architectural model for these applications. The key design goals for this step are that it be service-oriented, event-based, have the ability to leverage existing technology investments, and be able to integrate with current systems.ComponentsDevelop a conceptual design that identifies key components required_8fd6b196-d491-11e4-87bd-51af6a7ac8503.1Current State ModelBuild a model for the enterprise current state_8fd6b272-d491-11e4-87bd-51af6a7ac8503.2Use Cases & ModelDevelop use cases for high-priority BPM applications and an architectural model for these applications_8fd6b33a-d491-11e4-87bd-51af6a7ac8503.3Investments & SystemsLeverage existing technology investments and integrate with current systems_8fd6b416-d491-11e4-87bd-51af6a7ac8503.4Deployment StrategyProduce a phased deployment strategy_8fd6b4de-d491-11e4-87bd-51af6a7ac8504Business UnitsIT SpecialistsFor the Deployment Strategy, the objectives is to produce a phased strategy for deploying BPM across the enterprise ...It is important not to exclude any key business area from the deployment/planning process. It is also important not to develop a plan just for the pilot. Plan for the pilot and for the subsequent rollout. Key business and IT stakeholders need to be in the communication loop at all times at every stage of the strategy process. Start taking an enterprise view of BPM deployment planning.PilotIdentify the pilot_8fd6b5a6-d491-11e4-87bd-51af6a7ac8504.1RolloutAllow for phased application rollout_8fd6b682-d491-11e4-87bd-51af6a7ac8504.2Affinity GroupsSet up affinity groups_8fd6b74a-d491-11e4-87bd-51af6a7ac8504.3GovernanceDevelop a BPM reference architecture governance process_8fd6b812-d491-11e4-87bd-51af6a7ac8504.4ChangesIdentify required organizational changes_8fd6b90c-d491-11e4-87bd-51af6a7ac8504.5CommunicationsDevelop a communication plan_8fd6b9de-d491-11e4-87bd-51af6a7ac8504.6Candidate AssessmentAssess candidate solutions_8fd6baba-d491-11e4-87bd-51af6a7ac8505_8fd6bbb4-d491-11e4-87bd-51af6a7ac850SelectionSelect pilots and prototypes_8fd6bc86-d491-11e4-87bd-51af6a7ac8506_8fd6be20-d491-11e4-87bd-51af6a7ac850Prototypes & PilotsDevelop prototypes and pilots_8fd6bf1a-d491-11e4-87bd-51af6a7ac8507BPM Center of ExcellenceIt is best to create a "BPM Center of Excellence" that serves as an expert focus group for working with and helping to implement BPM throughout the organization. This helps access readiness and resources of each department and helps the phased introduction of deployments that help smooth the way for departments sharing common files, documents and processes.The pilot needs to be highly visible and have high value so that the decision makers can see the worth of BPM. _8fd6bfec-d491-11e4-87bd-51af6a7ac8502015-03-27http://www.bpminstitute.org/resources/articles/best-practices-business-process-managementOwenAmburOwen.Ambur@verizon.net