Layering new technologies on outdated processes has become a problem for many organizations, but as more government offices are embracing transparency and open data efforts it is becoming an even bigger concern. In order to address these issues and optimize operations, local, state and even federal agencies need to invest in modern government BPM solutions.
Business process management solutions offer the efficiency and optimization that allows offices to take time in implementing them and removing legacy technologies before investing in other improvements as well. By streamlining operations and providing the foundation to strengthen workflow, BPM will eliminate the bottlenecking that layering introduces while strengthening overall processes.
According to FCW, organizations have been warned against layering new technologies on old, outdated business processes for some years. Michael Hammer, a computer science professor who is credited with founding the "re-engineering" movement, pushed this idea. However, Hammer once said that "Re-engineering cannot be planned meticulously and accomplished in small and cautious steps. It's an all-or-nothing proposition with an uncertain result," and government agencies need that meticulous planning through cautious steps.
However, business process re-engineering has proved to be 'too revolutionary" for many organizations, the news source notes. As such, BPM can provide the steady, continuous improvement that businesses need, rather than the "sweeping change" of BPR. In regards to government operations in particular, easing change is critical.
"It has been an interesting journey," said Craig White, a principal in Deloitte Consulting's Federal Strategy and Operations division, according to the news report. "The federal government has been on a path to increase process optimization for a couple of decades, but the pace of change has really increased with the current budget constraints. We see even more activity and interest."
In order to optimize workflow and really make the changes necessary in the modern age of computing, town, county, state and even the federal government have to embrace process management software as a means to an end - the improvement of overall operations. This doesn't mean making sweeping changes to every aspect of workflow, but rather the steady, continuous and efficient improvements that businesses have seen from the same tools. BPM is a process in itself, and focusing on growth and efficiency is the first step towards success that any government agency can achieve with the right software to back them up.
Malcolm Ross
Vice President of Product Marketing
