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BPTrends ▪ October 2011

Project Managing Business Process Improvement Initiatives

Project Managing Business Process Improvement Initiatives

Gina Abudi

Overview

Business process improvement initiatives prove to be some of the more challenging projects for project managers. This is for a number of reasons, including: • • • • Most such projects affect the entire business, and it takes a significant amount of time to understand those affects There are many “moving parts” and trying to get the right resources secured for the project at the right time is frequently difficult to accomplish Some project managers can’t get past the fact that the process improvement initiative is an actual project and not an operation The work of the business must keep moving forward even with changes in processes

One project manager I know at an IT services firm has told me he dreads being assigned a business process improvement project. It makes him feel as if he doesn’t even know how to manage projects because he inevitably encounters a problem during the process. This Article will focus on how to make managing a business process improvement projects less stressful for project managers.

How to Manage Business Process Improvement Initiatives

There are several steps necessary to effectively manage a business process improvement initiative. We’ll discuss each of these steps in further detail.

Six Phase Approach to Managing Business Process Improvement Initiatives

Of key importance as you work through the process is ensuring that you have team members skilled in: • • • • • Modeling, analytical and design techniques Research, interviewing, and group facilitation techniques Communication and change management Representing all business units affected by the project Training

Let’s take a closer at these areas. First, you’ll want to search for the best team members - those with the expertise necessary to help ensure a successful project. I’ve successfully delayed projects...