I’ve noticed something crucial during my years working with businesses and IT teams. Often, these groups struggle to collaborate smoothly. Why? Because they’re approaching business process management from completely different angles. Let me guide you through this challenge and explain how we can bridge this gap effectively.
What is Process Management?
First, let’s clarify: what is process management exactly? Process management involves planning, executing, monitoring, and improving business processes. It ensures that business activities align perfectly with the organization’s goals. Without clear processes, achieving efficiency and customer satisfaction is incredibly difficult.
Understanding the Different Process Management Disciplines
The extensive field of business process management splits broadly into two disciplines: business administration and computer science. Usually, representatives from these disciplines have distinct perspectives.
Professionals in business administration often view IT as secondary. Typically, they expect tech experts to handle details without deeply engaging themselves. As a result, IT becomes more of a support function rather than an integrated strategic partner.
On the other hand, computer science experts often perceive business objectives and organizational policies as abstract or secondary. Generally, their focus remains heavily technical. They see business requirements as necessary but prefer keeping discussions concise and technical-focused.
Consequently, collaboration between these two communities isn’t seamless. To enhance our business process management disciplines, productive dialogue between these two communities is critical.
Enhancing Collaboration Between Process Management Disciplines
From my experience, both sides must adjust their mindsets slightly. Business administrators should recognize how deeply information systems integrate into daily operations. Equally important, IT professionals need to appreciate that business objectives guide technology decisions significantly.
To build productive interaction, I often recommend regular joint workshops. Firstly, this fosters mutual understanding. Secondly, it provides each side with clear insights into the other’s responsibilities and constraints. Over time, these interactions build trust and create stronger collaboration.
Clear communication can lead to robust, reliable business processes. Ultimately, this ensures greater customer satisfaction and boosts competitive advantage. Therefore, investing time to bridge these differences is beneficial for everyone involved.
Final Thoughts
Aligning process management disciplines isn’t always straightforward. However, the rewards of improved communication and collaboration are substantial. By bringing business administration and computer science together, we create a powerful synergy. Consequently, our processes become stronger, more efficient, and more successful.
Credits: Photo from cottonbro studio by Pexels
