Earlier this year 33 leading BPM thought leaders responded to a call from Roger Tregear and Paul Harmon to offer their thoughts about 15 questions about Business Process Management. This article, like others we have published, provides an overview about how some of the authors responded to one of the questions.
WHY A PROCESS ARCHITECTURE?
Architecture is an important concept in contemporary management. There are
many forms and definitions of architectural constructs: enterprise, business
systems, process, capabilities, information, application rules, services, organization, and resources, to name a few. Various architectural models give different prominence to process architecture—from low levels of importance
to primacy.
How do you see the position of process architecture in the overall architecture
of architectures? In what way do you suggest that a process architecture be best used?
OVERVIEW
There is no disagreement among our authors that a process architecture is a
fundamental component of BPM. It is the touchstone for all BPM-related
activity. The many pitfalls of building and using a process architecture are
noted, but its considerable practical value as both a strategic and tactical tool is strongly endorsed.
In contrast to shared aspiration among the authors for a process architecture to provide a shared vocabulary, a lingua franca of business management,
is their differing descriptions of what a process architecture actually is, and
of the details of its content and context. Business approaches divided by a
common language?
The place of process architecture in a larger context of business or enterprise
architecture is thoroughly canvassed. While most authors support the idea of
the primacy of process, it is noted that the most successful 'architectures' are
related to IT assets. Process architecture is the odd one out in this context,
as it demands strong and sustained business involvement, an involvement for
which additional IT effort is no substitute. Process architecture is only useful
if the business says it is, and it can only become useful if the business builds
and sustains it.
TALAL A. ALSUBAIE
Managing Director, Modprex
Process modeling is a time-intensive task, and most organizations do not
gain significant benefit from this effort—often because they lack a process
architecture.
JIM BOOTS
Owner, Global Process Innovation
Perhaps the biggest benefit of a dynamically updated process architecture
is the message of 'pride of work' that is conveyed when employees see that
management considers the work of every employee important enough to be
thoughtfully represented. Furthermore, by involving employees in the creation
and vetting of the process architecture, everyone comes away with a deeper understanding of their roles and how they contribute to the organization's
mission.
ROGER BURLTON
President, Process Renewal Group
Without processes, there is no architectural connectivity—and there is no traceability to business performance and the strategy of the value chain.
The process architecture is essential to defining the business. It is what we do, and how we do it. It informs and connects all the other aspects of business
capability.
ANDREAS HAVLIZA
Consulting Principal, Team Leader, Leonardo Consulting
INDRAJIT DATTA CHAUDHURI
Senior Consultant, Leonardo Consulting
CLEMENT HURPIN
Consultant, Leonardo Consulting
A business process architecture (BPA) is the key element in a Business Process
Management (BPM) framework! It should be the starting point of every BPM
program or project, as it clearly defines the organization's process landscape.
MATTHEW J. MORGAN
Head of Process & Metrics Excellence, Bridgewater Assoc.
I have heard of controversy about the difference between a capabilities and process architecture. If capabilities are organized into value chains, then I don't see much practical difference between the two.
GILLES MORIN
Founder, BPMPlus Inc.
When you see your CEO running around with the process architecture under
his arm, or when you see investment committees referring to the business
architecture as a key decision support tool, then you know that the process
architecture is a valid business architecture piece!
CHRIS POTTS
Corporate Strategist, Dominic Barrow
Most of an enterprise's 'internal processes' are fragments of external processes. Those external processes would probably happen whether the enterprise
existed or not, and are largely beyond the enterprise's control. Each
touchpoint is when an internal process impacts the enterprise's value to a
stakeholder. It is, therefore, better to design internal processes from touchpoints-inwards, rather than let the internal process drive the design of the touchpoints.
ALAN RAMIAS
Partner, Performance Design Lab
But is a BPA the highest-level view one could have of an organization? It
probably shouldn't be. It should be part of a larger view that encompasses all
aspects of an organization. That is, an 'enterprise architecture' would make
sense as the top-level view, the 'architecture-of-architectures'. So, I do subscribe to the notion of EA. But I've never seen a good one.
PHIL SHORT
IT Director, Mars Canada
The problem with the enterprise architecture (EA), in my opinion, is that it
is so complex that explaining it to senior business leaders to get buy-in for
any initiative is almost impossible, and that any business case to introduce
EA must consist of a team of enterprise architects that cost money with no
obvious return. That being said, use of EA in the IT arena can make a lot
of sense to connect the different layers of the organization together in a cohesive IT solution. The one thing it must have, though, is a business process
layer, and one that the business leaders understand and can relate to—not
one that resonates only with the IT function. So, this leaves me with the view
that BPA is king.
ANDREW SPANYI
Founder and Managing Director, Spanyi International
You know that the development of process architecture has been fruitful
when:
- Members of the SLT ask questions about the timeliness and quality
of process performance - There is an increase in the frequency and efficacy of cross-departmental
teams - People can concisely describe the process they work within and
understand what happens before and after their involvement in the
process flow.
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