W12 - Process Redesign (3) and Implementation

Source / Reference:


1) Week 12 Lecture slides-Lecture 12: Process Redesign (3) and Implementation


2) Business Process Re-Engineering (Case study of CISCO)
 http://www.articlesbase.com/strategic-planning-articles/business-process-re-engineering-case-study-of-cisco-4332955.html




Subject: Lecture 12- Process Redesign and Implementation
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Response: 


To reiterate there are 10 major tactics to Resdesign principles and implementation:
        1st Group (Restructure and Reconfiguring)
1. Lose Wait
2. Orchestrate
3. Mass-Customize
4. Synchronize
        2nd Group (Informating the process)
5. Digitize and Propagate
6. Vitrify
7. Sensitize
       3rd Group (Minding the process)
8. Analyse and Synthesize
9. Collect, connect, create
10. Personalize


This blog will focus more on the 2nd group - Informating the Process. These three aspects is basically changing the old process (e.g. paper based accounting) and turning into digital information (e.g. how SAP provides accouting solutions). These three aspects depict how information technology can be applied to turn the AS-IS as into a TO-BE process.


Digitize and Propagate refers to the digitization of data (ex: paper to database) and the "pushing out" of that data to the relevant users. Issues such as information flow, data collection, and data propagation relates to this principle.


The Vitrify principle refers to transparency of the process. The goal of this principle is to let users "see more". Examples that relate to this principle are on-demand tracking, reporting, and analysis. For example, the case of Logistics companies, they can vitrify their process by making the delivery process available to customers online perhaps through RFID (Radio frequency identification) and GPS (Global Positioning system).


The Sensitize principle refers to the implementation of sensors and loops to receive feedback so that the process will continuously operate. This principles also refers to the implementation of these sensors so that the process will easily adapt to change and different input's, more like change management in that perspective.


In the case of Cisco, they implemented Business Process Reegineering and based on conclusions, it was relatively successful. The writer mentions "Information technology assisted CISCO in achieving the required back up and several cost reduction even though a bulk of the cost reduction was done by the re-engineered process". This brings the significance of these 3 principles even more. By Digitizing and propagating their business process through the use of IT, Cisco was able to somewhat reduce their costs. Opportunities such as automated invoicing and online payment options were available after the application of BPR. These are one of the perks of BPR since it helps open new doors for the company.