First off, what is a ‘business process’?

The business process can be described as a sequence of tasks that an organization performs to meet their goals. As such, they can also be viewed as the steps in place to complete a process successfully. Each business or institution has its own methods set in place by its executives. These activities are a preestablished breakdown that acts as a guideline to employees on how the company operates. They cover every facet of the organization, across departments.

Given the value of a stalwart business process, there are many variations that those in power can use to approach this. An ever-popular variation is the improvement method- BPI (Business Process Improvement). The BPI method looks into the established operational workflow of a business and seeks to enhance it. As one can imagine, this style is preferred for its simple, resource-friendly, easy-to-implement process. It improves overall functioning within a company with little to no hassle. Besides, it has the marked benefit that employees can quickly adapt to it and gradually streamline the business process without much effort.

On the other hand, for the more radical and powerful changes, we turn to Business Process Engineering (BPE). It is also called Business Process Reengineering (BPR) because it lives up to the name. This business process method demands a total upheaval, rethinking and redesign of established practices. As a result, the outcome is explosively effective and dynamic. However, big results require big effort, so this style is implemented with caution, and it’s easy to discern why.

So, Why Do It At All?

Organizations that set a BPI or BPE in motion typically have discovered that their current business process isn’t working. It could be outdated, or inefficient, or unable to keep up with the changes of a growing business. Thus, the wise turn to changing and adapting their business processes to keep up with the company’s needs currently and for the foreseeable future. This is a particularly pertinent matter in the UAE, due to the presence of the twin cities of Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Dubai especially dominates the region and has earned the title of business hub.

It should be noted that there are many positives to the change that a new business process brings. A streamlined and more tailored business process can deliver better quality, efficient performance and customer satisfaction. It can also save the business funds, while making work smoother for employees.

Further, it reduces the risk of failure, especially if the work style has been adjusted to accommodate future growth. Lastly, a good business process promotes flexible, innovative thinking within the company, all directed at a culture of ongoing enhancement.

10 steps to Successful Implement a New Business Process

1. Determine your Objectives

   Before the process can be crafted or altered, it is imperative that we recognize the end goal. Identify what you hope to achieve through the change- is it a reduction in costs? Is the business aiming to improve customer relations or guarantee superior quality? Setting a proper goal sharpens the path to a more efficient, successful system.

2. Careful Study of the Present

   Perhaps this is a ‘needless to say’ moment, but anybody attempting to create a new business process needs to understand the current one extensively. A thorough analysis should help spot the unnecessary parts, and also what is causing discord in the workings of the organization.

3. Engage All Relevant Parties

   Good communication is a necessity. As such, it is not worth even attempting to improve or recreate the company’s business process without including the stakeholders. That includes everyone from employees to management. Besides, their personal experience and cooperation will be invaluable towards establishing the BPI.

4. Set Reasonable Milestones and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

   Now that you’re part of creating a refined and no-nonsense work system, you must practice what you preach. As with any project, establishing a new business process should involve milestones to hit and measure success. Tracking progress is a much-needed part of achieving any goal, and business processes are no different.

5. Bringing in That Creative Energy

   Innovative and creative brainstorms play a fun, yet vital role in building a new business process. As you move toward streamlining and improving methods, keep an open mind and take the time to consider unusual solutions.

6. Prioritize Improvement Opportunities

   This one is easy to understand. As you set about recreating the business process for the better, take care to weigh each idea before application. In other words, pick wisely for the best final results.

7. Modify and Design for Improvement

   Once again, an obvious, yet necessary point. All the new procedures must be reasonably better for achieving the aforementioned final goal.

8. Implementation

   Once the proposed changes have been reviewed and finalized comes the process of implementing the change. This too has to occur in a planned, controlled manner. Some experts recommend testing the finalized business process changes on a smaller scale before enacting it company wide.

9. Training and Communication

   Once the new business process has been tested and passed approval, comes training. Like the film Karate Kid, it’s time for the creators of the business process to embrace their inner Mr. Miyagi. Employees must receive clear instructions. Communication must be strong, and the workforce must not be left in doubt about their purpose and tasks.

10. Monitoring

    Lastly, the measure of success in a well-implemented business process is the milestones. Ensure regular check-ins and confirm that the processes are being followed appropriately. Do not panic if the real-world results differ slightly from projections, and be ready to adjust.

Conclusion

The above are 10 simple, step by step instructions to bear in mind while implementing a new business process. In the UAE and elsewhere, integrating a BPI involves forethought, planning and adaptability. But, you’ve got this!

If your interest is piqued by project management tasks like managing business processes, take a course! At LUBM, we pride ourselves on the exemplary universities we partner with. We also offer MBA in Project and Operations Management from York St John University. Additionally, we offer an MSc in Project Management from the renowned University of the West of Scotland. Don’t forget to explore the Scholarship for Aspiring Professionals to see if you qualify!