Business Process Management Approach Research Articles

On the Interplay Between Business Process Management and Internet-of-Things

AbstractIn the last years, the increasing scientific and industrial interest in Business Process Management (BPM) approaches and methods on the one side, and Internet-of-Things (IoT) technologies and tools on the other. Are these fields complementary? What are their respective interplays and the research challenges to their realizations? The article presents a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) to gain in-depth insights into the maturity of existing approaches to IoT-aware BPM. The analysis of the retrieved studies, framed along the research questions addressed in the SLR, enables us to systematically evaluate the literature on IoT-aware BPM concerning the phases of the process life cycle covered by the different approaches, the specific topics addressed, the application domains involved, and the possibility to tackle the research challenges. Future research directions are also highlighted.

Blockchain and Business Process Management (BPM) Synergy: A Comparative Analysis of Modeling Approaches

Blockchain technology has become a powerful disruptive force that upends established ideas in several industries. A fascinating point of convergence is that of blockchain technology and Business Process Management (BPM), where the distributed and immutable characteristics of blockchain promise to completely transform the modeling, implementation, and oversight of business processes. This symbiosis offers a singular chance to develop corporate processes that are more efficient, safe, and transparent. Nevertheless, to guarantee that blockchain-specific components are accurately represented in these processes, modeling techniques need to be critically examined as part of integrating blockchain into BPM. This literature review examines blockchain-BPM integration using different modeling methodologies. Though well-established, traditional BPM approaches may need help with blockchain-specific aspects. Blockchain-oriented modeling includes smart contracts and decentralized consensus. Hybrid models with blockchain and traditional elements are popular. Adaptability, model clarity, and blockchain integration are evaluated in the analysis. This literature review aims to improve corporate processes’ efficiency, security, and transparency by investigating how to model the integration of blockchain and BPM better.

PROPOSITION OF A METHODOLOGY FOR MAPPING AND MODELING PROCESSES FOR HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

This article aims to present the development of a methodology, and its artifacts, for the application of the Business Process Management (BPM) approach within the administrative unit of the Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology Fluminense. The work proposal is to identify, prioritize and model processes "as is", guiding decision making and facilitating communication and cooperation, serving as a link between organizational strategies and the daily activities performed by the institution's servers. To achieve the proposed objective, action-research was adopted, carried out between 2019 and 2020, and a structure was built based on the BPM cycle, with the adapted use of the GUT matrix, 5W1H technique, Business Process Management Notation, Tangible Business Process Management, and Bizagi Modeler software. As a contribution, a methodology of great relevance was defined for its easy adaptation to institutional needs, proving to be applicable to other public educational institutions. The study innovated by presenting the set of instruments used and validated in the different sectors of the Rectory of IFFluminense, regardless of their purpose or organization.

Advancing business process management lifecycle implementation through the integration of the design for Six Sigma method

Purpose This research proposes how Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) provides a complementary approach for business process management (BPM) lifecycle implementation in order to address gaps identified in the current literature.Design/methodology/approach The mandatory elements of a method (MEM) framework is used to illustrate DFSS's maturity as a process redesign method. The use of DFSS in a BPM context is described through several action research case examples.Findings This research specifies the procedure model (order of development activities), techniques, results, roles and information/meta model (conceptual data model of results) associated with using DFSS to address BPM-related challenges. The action research case examples provided discuss the details of implementing BPM using DFSS to design, implement and test redesigned processes to ensure they fulfill the needs of process participants.Research limitations/implications While the case examples discussed were performed in only a few settings, which limits the generalizability of their results, they provide evidence regarding the wide range of domains in which the proposed DFSS-BPM approach can be applied and how the tools are used in different contexts.Practical implications This research offers a road map for addressing the challenges practitioners often face with BPM lifecycle implementation.Originality/valueThis research provides the first attempt to integrate DFSS as a complementary method for BPM lifecycle implementation.

A measurement instrument for the “ten principles of good BPM”

PurposeThe ten principles of good business process management (BPM) support organizations in planning and scoping the organizations' BPM approach. Derived from literature and expert panels, the principles received much attention both in research and practice. This article develops a measurement instrument to operationalize the principles and to support organizations in measuring the degree to which they incorporate the principles in their BPM approach, that way advancing their BPM capabilities.Design/methodology/approachThe authors applied the scale-development methodology, because this methodology is an established approach consisting of various techniques to develop measurement instruments. First, the authors used established techniques to develop such an instrument. Then, the authors assessed the validity and reliability of the developed instrument through a field survey with 345 participants.FindingsThe authors developed a valid and reliable measurement instrument for the ten principles of good BPM. The field survey's results reveal that the measurement instrument meets all required methodological standards. The instrument, thus, can be applied to help process owners and managers to evaluate their BPM approach and plan future actions based on potential shortcomings. Future research can both use and further develop the instrument, which serves as a conceptualization of the principles.Originality/valueThis study is the first to provide a measurement instrument for assessing an organizations' BPM practice against the ten principles of good BPM, which have become established as a much-considered and widely-used source of reference both in academia and practice. The authors also discuss how the instrument compares to and distinguishes from existing approaches to qualify BPM approaches, thus communicating the significance of the instrument.

An experimental investigation of BPMN-based corporate communications modeling

PurposeDespite corporate communications having an immense impact on corporate success, there is a lack of dedicated techniques for their management and visualization. A potential strategy is to apply business process management (BPM) approach with business process model and notation (BPMN) modeling techniques.Design/methodology/approachThe goal of this study was to gain empirical insights into the cognitive effectiveness of BPMN-based corporate communications modeling. To this end, experimental research was performed in which subjects tested two modeling notations – standardized BPMN conversation diagrams and a BPMN extension with corporate communications-specific concepts.FindingsStandard conversation diagrams were demonstrated to be more time-efficient for designing and interpreting diagrams. However, the subjects made significantly fewer mistakes when interpreting the diagrams modeled in the BPMN extension. Subjects also evolved positive perceptions toward the proposed extension.Practical implicationsBPMN-based corporate communications modeling may be applied to organizations to depict how formal communications are or should be performed consistently, effectively and transparently by following and integrating with BPM approaches and modeling techniques.Originality/valueThe paper provides empirical insights into the cognitive effectiveness of corporate communications modeling based on BPMN and positions the corresponding models into typical process architecture.

DISASTER RESPONSE MODELING BASE ON LANDSLIDE EARLY WARNING USING CASE MANAGEMENT MODEL AND NOTATION

There are a few handling steps in the emergency response to landslides that need thorough explanation. The flexibility of emergency response situations is ineffectively supported by traditional modeling methodologies because they are excessively inflexible. Companies have traditionally modeled their business processes using the Business Process Management Approach and Notation (BPMN) model. For design case management, such as the emergency reaction to a landslide disaster, BPMN modeling is unsuitable. because the BPMN modeling focuses how business processes flow inside a company. The Case Management Model and Notation (CMMN), the newest modeling approach from the Object Management Group (OMG), was launched in 2013 with the purpose of completing the BPMN modeling approach. The unstructured and adaptable CMMN claims to be able to handle urgent situations. This study's intention is to develop a CMMN model of a landslide emergency reaction scenario based on an emergency alert from an Early Warning System (EWS) sensor. In order to acquire the qualitative data for this study, the researcher first conducted a literature review. Then used the interview and observation methods to gather data, and from this data, we created the model using the CMMN modeling approach. The Yogyakarta Special Region Disaster Management Agency's (BPBD DIY) data flow of a disaster management information system, which was already operational, was analyzed by researchers. Then, the researchers used CMMN to model the data in order to find out opportunities to improve the disaster management information system already in use at BPBD DIY. Two CMMN models—the BPBD DIY disaster management information system model and the recommendation model for system improvements—were created in this study. The analysis of the current disaster management information system model resulted in the recomendation of this model. A prototype of feature recommendation is created as part of this research and given to specialists in natural disasters for model validation.

A SOFTWARE SOLUTION FOR QUALITY ASSESSMENT OF BUSINESS PROCESS MODELS

One of the primary tools of the BPM (Business Process Management) paradigm is business process modeling. Business scenarios can be presented in the form of graphical models that can be easily understood by both Information Technology (IT) professionals and non-IT professionals – business analysts, software customers, department heads, top managers, and other stakeholders interested in business process improvement – using business process modeling. Small and large businesses can capture their operations in the form of graphic diagrams using business process modeling as the fundamental tool of the BPM approach, which can then be brainstormed by business analysts to uncover ways to optimize organizational workflows. Typically, business process improvement is accomplished by the automation of operations that have been recognized as “bottlenecks” following analysis. However, analyzing a business process model is only viable if it is clear and correct in terms of compliance with both the notation used and the actual business process it reflects. Therefore, this work examines the structural measures of the BPMN (Business Process Model and Notation) business process model. It is assumed that business process models that violate business process modeling rules are neither understandable nor suitable for further work with them, which can also lead to various errors occurring during the stage of business process analysis, as well as the stage of its improvement and implementation of proposed changes, i.e., during development, testing, and maintenance of distinct software components, information system modules, and so on. The object of this work is a process of quality assessment of business process models created using the BPMN notation. The subject of this work is a software solution for the quality assessment of business process models. The goal of this work is the evaluation of a probability of errors in business process models to improve their quality.

Digitally Optimizing the Information Flows Necessary to Manage Professional Athletes: A Case Study in Rugby Union.

Practical case studies elaborating end-to-end attempts to improve the quality of information flows associated with athlete management processes are scarce in the current sport literature. Therefore, guided by a Business Process Management (BPM) approach, the current study presents the outcomes from a case study to optimize the quality of strength and conditioning (S&C) information flow in the performance department of a professional rugby union club. Initially, the S&C information flow was redesigned using integral technology, activity elimination and activity automation redesign heuristics. Utilizing the Lean Startup framework, the redesigned information flow was digitally transformed by designing data collection, management and visualization systems. Statistical tests used to assess the usability of the data collection systems against industry benchmarks using the System Usability Scale (SUS) administered to 55 players highlighted that its usability (mean SUS score of 87.6 ± 10.76) was well above average industry benchmarks of similar systems (Grade A from SUS scale). In the data visualization system, 14 minor usability problems were identified from 9 cognitive walkthroughs conducted with the High-Performance Unit (HPU) staff. Pre-post optimization information quality was subjectively assessed by administering a standardized questionnaire to the HPU members. The results indicated positive improvements in all of the information quality dimensions (with major improvements to the accessibility) relating to the S&C information flow. Additionally, the methods utilized in the study would be especially beneficial for sporting environments requiring cost effective and easily adoptable information flow digitization initiatives which need to be implemented by its internal staff members.

Analytical Evaluation of SOA and SCRUM Business Process Management Approaches for IoT-Based Services Development

The SCRUM approach and Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) framework are critical in assessing the factors that influence the efficiency of a business process and ensuring that business objectives are fulfilled, and the process is on track to meet those objectives. Flexibility and change adoption are critical features for both SCRUM and SOA approaches. Even though both sides encourage agility, the integration of the two independent concepts (SOA is the architectural framework while SCRUM is the development process) should be considered before being used in software management and development projects. This study assessed and analyzed both SCRUM and SOA’s diverse and different software architectural frameworks and development methodologies as well as their environment, which is integrated with the context of software project management and development setup for the software development industry. In addition, this study explores the similarities between the SCRUM process model and the SOA architectural framework to see if they are compatible and, if so, how they may be combined to enhance SOA-based projects. This research also looks at how to build and use a SCRUM methodology for large-scale SOA projects. As a result, SCRUM was chosen as the software development methodology for a research and development project based on SOA. In terms of project development and implementation, the complete project structure is made up of eight main parts.

PROCESS MINING: PRINCIPLES, CHARACTERISTICS AND IMPLEMENTATION POTENTIAL

Digital transformation is forcing companies to rethink their processes to meet current customer needs. Business Process Management (BPM) can provide a means to structure and address this change. However, most BPM approaches face limitations on the number of processes they can optimize at the same time, due to complexity and resource constraints. The article is devoted to data mining as a tool for modeling and improving the company's business processes. Process Mining is a collection of data-driven diagnostic and business process improvement methods that combine machine learning and BPM. Among the advantages of Process Mining is more efficient management decision making. The possibility of introducing Process Mining methods into the work of a telecommunications company for the automatic collection of information about business processes and building a map of business processes is analyzed. The use of Process Mining methods will allow a telecommunications company to optimize the work of its departments and increase customer satisfaction. In addition, the implementation of this system contributes to a better analysis of the results of the execution of business processes for providing access to the Internet. This will improve the regulations for these processes, control of their compliance and the procedure for making managerial decisions at a higher quality level.

Translating transparency into value: an approach to design IoT solutions

PurposeThis research proposes and demonstrates a framework that can be used to systematically address the idiosyncratic design of Internet of Things (IoT)-based solutions, and to match the explorative aspects of introducing a new technology to the exploitative needs, to improve the performance of production operations.Design/methodology/approachDue to the applied nature of this research, a design science research (DSR) framework was adopted in order to ensure both the rigor and applicability of the outcomes.FindingsA process excellence perspective, operationalized through a business process management approach, is applied to scope the solution space according to its exploitative potential. The mapping of the information flow that needs to be established defines the technological infrastructure of the solution.Research limitations/implicationsThe theoretical generalizability of the proposed framework is limited by a testing sample of a single case. The research implications are related to a call for the contextualization of IoT applications. Further research will involve the application of this approach to a diverse range of industrial settings. While the domain is far from saturated, a framework that can facilitate such investigations has been provided.Practical implicationsThe proposed framework provides practitioners with an approach to designing IoT solutions that can consistently address their needs for operational performance improvements.Originality/valueThis research proposes a framework that links the enabling of transparency via the integration of IoT in production operations to contextual characteristics and business potential. Furthermore, it highlights the developmental drivers of IoT solutions, which emerged during the empirical demonstration of this framework.

A business process and portfolio management approach for Industry 4.0 transformation

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to address the difficulties faced by manufacturing enterprises by providing a project portfolio management approach supporting the selection and prioritization of various Industry 4.0 projects where business process analysis is used to ensure the strategic alignment and value of the project portfolio.Design/methodology/approachThe design research methodology, a mixed applied research methodology, was used to develop and test the proposed approach.FindingsDespite the growing interest of the scientific and industrial communities in I4.0, it seems that there is no method by which manufacturing companies can select a large number of improvement projects. Moreover, studies tend to focus on the evaluation and implementation of a single technology, while the transformation of an intelligent plant requires the consolidation and coordination of many initiatives to achieve a global objective.Originality/valueThe proposed project portfolio management model offers support to enterprises during their digital transformation and improves their processes by integrating technology levers through consistent and achievable selection of I4.0 initiatives while meeting strategic goals and objectives.

Business process management approach for improving agile software process and agile maturity

AbstractContinuous improvement of agile software processes is inevitable in order to reach sustainable and high‐quality project outcomes. In this sense, organizations need guidance on how to apply agile software process improvement effectively; comprehensive approaches with in‐depth analysis and guidelines are required to keep software processes in balance and to continuously improve them, as in a typical business process, over time. This research aims to explore the implementation of Business Process Management approach for improving an agile software process and accordingly agile maturity level. Many organizations utilize from Business Process Management approach in order to improve workflows and to discover organization‐specific weaknesses. For this purpose, the study presents a practical, flexible model based on Business Process Management approach for agile software process improvement, which also incorporates maturity assessment for measuring the agile maturity level. Furthermore, an exploratory case study with a triangulation methodology of mixed methods was carried out for implementation of the model. The research puts forward that Business Process Management approach can be used for in‐depth analysis of agile software process, discovery of problems, and redesign of the process. The research roadmap introduces worthwhile insights on agile software process improvement for researchers and practitioners.

An In-depth Investigation of Technology Management Process in the Metal Processing Industry

Purpose: This study investigates the technology management sphere within an organization from a process approach perspective and explains the technology management process (TMP) and its course and dynamics, along with circumstances influencing it, to a large extent. Design/Methodology/Approach: The study employs the multiple-case-study methodology to investigate the process approach to Technology Management (TM) in manufacturing companies. The investigation is carried out in several metal processing companies. In-depth observations are collected, and visualization techniques on flowcharts are employed for modeling and presenting the generalizations. Findings: From the study, a general TMP is elaborated, consisting of a sequence of four major steps interspersed with economic evaluation. The process is characterized by modularity, and it is abundant with many feedback loops and repeated assessments, which support architectural knowledge creation. The study implies that learning sources and means are the crucial factors influencing studied TMP. Practical Implications: The study provides practical knowledge of TM, which will help accelerate activities related to developing and implementing new technologies in manufacturing companies that use similar technology components. Identifying the main circumstances of TMP make it easier to achieve higher productivity. Originality/Value: The Business Process Management approach to TM's investigation in companies provides a refreshing view on how they deal with technologies. The study shows that the real TM is more complex than it might have seemed from widely discussed literature models. An important observation is the by-the-way learning phenomenon. This learning is spread over time and takes advantage of emerging opportunities from diverse sources.

A Conceptual Framework to Support Digital Transformation in Manufacturing Using an Integrated Business Process Management Approach

Digital transformation is no longer a future trend, as it has become a necessity for businesses to grow and remain competitive in the market. The fourth industrial revolution, called Industry 4.0, is at the heart of this transformation, and is supporting organizations in achieving benefits that were unthinkable a few years ago. The impact of Industry 4.0 enabling technologies in the manufacturing sector is undeniable, and their correct use offers benefits such as improved productivity and asset performance, reduced inefficiencies, lower production and maintenance costs, while enhancing system agility and flexibility. However, organizations have found the move towards digital transformation extremely challenging for several reasons, including a lack of standardized implementation protocols, emphasis on the introduction of new technologies without assessing their role within the business, the compartmentalization of digital initiatives from the rest of the business, and the large-scale implementation of digitalization without a realistic view of return on investment. To instill confidence and reduce the anxiety surrounding Industry 4.0 implementation in the manufacturing sector, this paper presents a conceptual framework based on business process management (BPM). The framework is informed by a content-centric literature review of Industry 4.0 technologies, its design principles, and BPM method. This integrated framework incorporates the factors that are often overlooked during digital transformation and presents a structured methodology that can be employed by manufacturing organizations to facilitate their transition towards Industry 4.0.

Towards successful establishment of a project portfolio management system: business process management approach

Linking structures, processes and resources with corporate strategies is a key requirement of today’s organizations, bringing about integration toward achieving long-term objectives. Organizations can no longer rely on traditional practices since advanced systems and management approaches are being applied by their competitors. The project portfolio management (PPM) is a tool that plays a key role in collecting information from operational levels and consolidating them at the portfolio level for strategic decision-making. Establishment of this approach in organizations requires robust information systems, analytical software, decision-making structure, and governance framework to be in place. Primarily, a systematic perspective needs to be adopted to define, design and model all the necessary components of a PPM system. Business process management (BPM), as a systematic approach, can be effectively applied for this purpose. The aim of this study is to introduce one of the specific applications of the BPM approach in facilitating the systematic implementation of PPM in organizations. This theoretical study is exploratory in essence and tries to theorize the relationship between BPM and PPM to develop a conceptual framework highlighting the role of BPM in embedding all the necessary features of a PPM system. We found key functions of BPM that contribute to three aspects of PPM system namely; structure, infrastructure, and process. The findings introduce one of the important application of BPM in the management of project portfolios and also provide professionals with practical insight into how the BPM should be applied to facilitate the implementation of this system.

Implementing a decision support system in the transport process management of a small Slovak transport company

It is indisputable that the continuous development of digital technologies influences the business environment. Using information technologies means easier access to a huge amount of business information, which is hard to include in day-to-day decision-making. Traditional data processing methods in business management become inadequate. So, business process management approaches and business data analysis are the tools that could be utilized to optimize processes in a company and to harvest valuable information that can provide a variety of decision-making material for company management. This article deals with the analysis, modeling, and optimization of the transport process, as well as the design of a system for decision support in this process within a small transport company. The research is focused on the development of an innovative decision support system based on a company’s data analysis in order to improve the management of the transport service process.

Implementing a decision support system in the transport process management of a small Slovak transport company

It is indisputable that the continuous development of digital technologies influences the business environment. Using information technologies means easier access to a huge amount of business information, which is hard to include in day-to-day decision-making. Traditional data processing methods in business management become inadequate. So, business process management approaches and business data analysis are the tools that could be utilized to optimize processes in a company and to harvest valuable information that can provide a variety of decision-making material for company management. This article deals with the analysis, modeling, and optimization of the transport process, as well as the design of a system for decision support in this process within a small transport company. The research is focused on the development of an innovative decision support system based on a company’s data analysis in order to improve the management of the transport service process.

O Conceito de Gestão por Processos Aplicado à Administração Legal

This paper aims to identify the key business processes that are part of the organization structure in law firms that provide legal services. The study was conduct within the legal administration and business process management approaches. A qualitative-exploratory and quantitative-descriptive research was realized. The first, conducted through the application of semi-structured individual interviews, identified eight theoretical dimensions that were used in the latter, as a reference for defining the research questionnaire. Seven law firms certified by ISO 9001 were used for the identification of business processes. As results the identified processes were grouped according to APQC Process Classification Framework, in four key process (vision and strategy development, service market, products and services distribution and customer service management). Also, six support process categories were identified: information technologies management, financial resources management, acquiring, constructing and management properties, environmental health and safety, external relationships management and management knowledge, improvement, and change. Providing greater customer satisfaction has been identified as the main factor for the offices to map their business processes, while lesser degree of importance was attributed to product and service cost reduction and quality improving.