Lecture 7 - BPR Methodologies

Reference
1. "Redesigning Enterprise Processes for e-Business", O. A. EI Sawy
2.  http://www.plus.ie/bpr/papers/Critique%20of%20existing%20business%20process%20re-engineering%20methodologies.pdf


Summary of lecture
The BPR methodology is a structured set of guidelines/ principles that enables an analyst to derive ways for problem solving.

The general methodology taught in lecture consists of 5 typical phrases:
1. Triggering & executive visioning
2. BPR Project mobilisation
3. Process redesign
4. Implementation & organizational transformation
5. Monitoring & maintaining

 In fact, the choice of technologies and methods within each phrase and the degree of relative emphasis of various aspects pf phrases is contingent upon the context of BPR, such as the scope and depth of the BPR project, the nature of the organizational infrastructure, and the nature of the process.

Evaluation
As referred to the journal Critique of existing business process re-engineering methodologies – The development and implementation of a new methodology, it revealed the weakness of these methodologies and used 3 European construction companies as case studies to explain this belief.

This critique mainly focused on missing the element of human and organizational issues in most of the BPR methodologies,i.e. the human and organizational issues were not incorporated well in the proposed methodologies. Also ,it focused on cost and effectiveness of the methodologies, which stated that the cost spent might not be worth and might exceed the benefits made.

From my point of view, we should use these methodologies appropriately and adjusting it depending on the nature of the company. I think no BPR methodologies are perfect and the company can certainly get a success in BPR after adopting these methodologies. It is impossible to have a theory that can apply to all the companies perfectly and solve all problems. Also I think we should not reject any methodologies because of some minor mistakes.