Business Process Management

Business Process Management Certificate

BPM (which includes Business Process Re-engineering; BPR) has remained a pervasive persistent management concern for dozens of years.  As the interest in process analysis, automation, and optimization continues and evolves, organizations need individuals that understand the changing requirements business places on the design of processes and how they synchronize this demand with the technical capabilities of the underlying emerging technologies (e.g., AI, Robotics Process Automation, blockchain).  This Certificate focus is on preparing candidates (IT and non-IT) to address these important business, technical, and management considerations.

Business Process Management (BPM) is the set of concepts, methods, and tools surrounding the definition, implementation, improvement and structuring of processes within and across organizations. The application of new business process automation technologies are providing significant efficiency and effectiveness gains for organizations through the automated coordination of activities, allocation of tasks to process participants, and the integration of applications.


The demand for BPM is further stimulated by opportunities related to ongoing process performance improvement, process outsourcing/offshoring, and the interest in process standards such as BPM CBOK knowledge areas and the knowledge areas that are aligned to the BPM Life Cycle Framework, as well as ITIL and SCOR

BPM is not what it was even a few years ago. Understanding emerging information technologies and their impact on enhancing business processes, and the roles and responsibilities of IT and non-IT stakeholders in leveraging these emerging technologies in light of the digital transformation will be at the heart of all of the courses.

While going well beyond the traditional BPM models and tools, this certificate will also prepare attendees to complete their Association of Business Process Management (ABPMP) Certification successfully, as well as for more senior level BPM responsibilities. With our candidates largely coming from IT, this Certificate focuses on the important IT process and program management considerations.


Business Process Management skills are in high demand for positions such as Business Analysts, System Integrators, Consultants, Compliance Managers, Process Managers and Owners, CIOs and COOs. BPM/BPR are considered among the most important solutions for leveraging IT’s ability to reduce business expenses, including working with business partners to re-engineer processes in leveraging technologies such as Enterprise resource planning (ERPs), Customer relationship management (CRMs), and newer technologies including robotics process automation (Cognitive Computing), AI, Blockchain, IoT (internet of things), Bring-Your-Own-Infrastructure, and SMAC (Social, Mobile, Business Analytics, and Cloud). In essence, IT is in the business of business process change. Technology alone is not sufficient; strong collaboration with the business to change how they leverage technology is fundamental.


The GIIM courses that focus on emerging technologies (e.g., AI, blockchain, data, Robotics Process Automation; see below) and focus on leveraging and managing the emerging technologies that have a direct impact on BPM/BPR, should also be considered.

Select at least 4 courses from the following:
(All courses are available live/synchronously face-to-face & online)

1. BPM & Workflow Implementation

The focus of this course is on the techniques and concepts required to map, implement, automate, and evaluate business processes. Focusing on the technical and implementation aspects of Business Process Management (BPM), the course leads participants from technical process design through the implementation and management of workflows to the structure of process-aware information systems. Participants will understand the distinction between business processes and business rules and find out how they can be supported by technology. The course also addresses the technical structure of process-aware applications and provides an overview of technology standards that affect BPM systems. It includes modules on the run-time monitoring of processes and post-execution evaluation techniques complete this course.


2. Service Innovation

This course leads candidates through the identification, analysis, definition, and deployment of service opportunities within public and private organizations. Each of these phases is analyzed in detail to encompass the principal activities, methods, tools and techniques applied in the respective phase. Participants will learn how to identify appropriate supporting techniques and information technologies (e.g., ERP, CRM, Robotics Process Automation/Cognitive Computing) for the different phases of the service life cycle, assess the role of technology, and gauge the organizational impact of service-focused operations. The objective of the course is to enable candidates to identify, implement and evaluate innovative service offerings in their organization.


3. Integrating IT Services

The focus of this course is business transformation and the role of information technology (IT) as both an enabler and a driver of change. The emphasis of this course is on enterprise and IT integration and synergy creation.


Many significant organizational changes in recent years have been based on the incorporation and integration of IT throughout various levels of the organization. This has led to new forms of work, customer/supplier relations, and communications that have had a significant effect on an organization’s effectiveness. This course examines these issues primarily from the process management perspective. The course first considers processes at a strategic and organizational level. This is followed by topics involving the logical design of processes. Next, we discuss process automation using a variety of commercial and open source workflow management systems. Finally, we discuss interorganizational processes, information processes, and change management.


Objectives

 

  • To understand and apply process organization concepts
  • To be able to identify business processes
  • To master techniques for process modeling and improvement
  • To understand the role of information technology in Business Processes

 

Major Topics

 

  • Business Process Management and Automation
  • Process Innovation
  • Process Modeling
  • Organization of Work
  • Monitoring and Controlling
  • Infrastructures for Workflow Management

 


4. Analysis & Development of IS Services/Applications

This course presents and examines various approaches to information analysis and development for organizational information systems within a system development life cycle (SDLC), e.g. the waterfall, concentric, and prototyping approaches. Topics include strategic planning for SDLC, front-end and back-end phases of SDLC, project management, CASE methodologies, and balancing user, organizational, and technical considerations.


5. Evolution of the Service Economy in the Era of Smart Machines (AI & Robotics Process Automation)

Improving business processes has been the focus of computing since its inception. The advent of ERPs in the early 90’s provided a significant lead forward in providing integrated systems to support processes across the enterprise.



Y2K propelled the use of ERPs even further and faster. Not since then has enterprises experienced a more significant change like what awaits us with AI and smart machines (robotics process automation). These new automated (software driven) services open the door to significantly enhanced and new customer/client/patient experiences. Organizations are becoming defined by the quality of the digital service exchanges they provide, hence, raising the bar of expectations for all service providers. This new era is enabled/driven via machines that can continuously accumulate the growing access to data and turn it into knowledge and learn and enhance the services that they deliver.



These smart machines, embedded in smart systems, will be the impetus behind a newly evolved set of business processes. To meet this challenge, candidates will learn the essential principles for the successful transformation of BPM for the emergent digital services economy, including understanding the evolving trends in AI, cognitive computing, recognizing service gaps/opportunities, the service economy, service systems and thinking, creating demonstrable value, business architecture, cognitive systems, and delivery platforms. Evaluative and prescriptive design tools/models will be focused on to help attendees apply the principles in their own business environment, whether service providers or service buyers.



Appreciating how enterprises automate services using a variety of automation technologies is at the core of these courses. The array of available automation products described include scripting tools, software robots, robotic process automation, artificial intelligence, desktop automation, cognitive computing, business process management automation, and machine learning, to name a few. Understanding how these tools worked, the type of data used as input, how they processed data, and the type of results produced are fundamental.



Recognizing the difference between Robotic Process Automation (RPA) and Cognitive Automation (CA; which people commonly call artificial intelligence/AI) and the impact they can have is essential. The realm of RPA consists of tools that automate tasks that have clearly defined rules to process structured data to produce deterministic outcomes. A ‘software robot’ is configured to process tasks the way humans do, by giving it a logon ID, password, and playbook for executing processes. RPA tools are ideally suited for automating those mindless ‘swivel chair’ chores performed by humans, like taking structured data from spreadsheets and applying some rules to update an ERP system. RPA tools ‘take the robot out of the human’, meaning that the tedious parts of a person’s job could be automated, leaving the human to do more interesting work that requires judgement and social skills. Automation Anywhere, Blue Prism, and UiPath are the top RPA providers by market share.



The realm of cognitive automation (CA) consists of more powerful software suites that automate or augment tasks that do not have clearly defined rules. We do not like to call such software ‘Artificial Intelligence’ because we believe the AI label aggrandizes what these tools do. With CA technologies, inference-based algorithms process data to produce probabilistic outcomes. A variety of tools are in the realm of CA, such as tools that analyze data based on supervised machine learning, unsupervised machine learning, and deep learning algorithms, backed by powerful computing and memory. The input data is often unstructured, such as natural language, either written or spoken. Google’s Machine Learning Kit, IPsoft’s Amelia, IBM’s Watson suite and Expert Systems’ Cogito are examples of CA tools.



Expanded in the GIIM Data Certificates, see:




 


 


6. Trends & Directions in BPM

The dynamic business and technical environments demand effective and efficient business processes that are integrated across the organization. This demand became even more visible during the recent economic conundrum. Having IT and business working together in identifying the strategies, tactics, and operations for leveraging IT has become essential. Understanding changes such as the shifting economy, globalization, environment, and competition in concert with emerging technologies (e.g., robotic process automation/cognitive computing, AI, business analytics, big data social, mobile, Cloud) has become fundamental. 
   
This course focuses on how business and IT organizations can effectively and efficiently assess trends and emerging technologies. Participants will learn how to help their organization define, select, and adopt new information technologies.

This course will introduce candidates to new directions in information systems and effective approaches for evaluating their relevance and applicability to their business environments as well as the new challenges and problems that they present. They will learn about emerging technologies and the latest design trends in data and knowledge, networks and applications in terms of what issues they address and in particular, how organizations can exploit them for competitive advantage.


The emergence of hyper automation is starting to have a significant impact on organizations. There is automation, robotic process automation and then hyper automation. Automation simply automates data exchange among applications without much effect on workflow. Next comes robotic process automation (RPA) which automates routine tasks for which there are clear, consistent rules. These two areas make up probably three quarters of the automation we see today. But ten years out, hyper automation will dominate these markets.


Hyper automation is not a platform, nor a technology. It is a framework that suggests that everything that can be automated will be automated eventually. It blends artificial intelligence, automation, intelligent business workflows, as well as process transformation, robust access to data, and substituting human effort with software – without major modifications to the existing technology landscape.

 7.  Facilitating Digital Change

This course prepares IT and non-IT professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate and lead successful digital transformations. The course covers key topics such as diagnosing the need for change, creating compelling change visions, engaging stakeholders, managing resistance, and monitoring progress. Through a blend of theoretical insights and practical strategies, students learn to effectively manage change at various levels within their organizations.

The course comprehensively explores the principles and practices essential for effectively navigating organizational transformations. In today's dynamic business digital landscape, change is inevitable, and this course equips participants with the knowledge and tools necessary to lead and adapt to change successfully. Through a blend of theoretical insights and practical strategies, candidates will learn to diagnose the need for change, create compelling change visions, engage stakeholders, manage resistance, and monitor progress.

Change management can be leveraged in several ways inside of an organization. While most perspectives focus on the executive level, there is compelling research that it is the activity and prioritization of the mid-level manager that creates change and drives transformation initiatives forward.

This course will help participants understand the fundamentals of individual and organizational change and the influence and relationship building skills necessary to create change with colleagues. It will introduce tools to define and measure success that can be integrated into existing project management methodologies and other programs.

This course is designed for the mid-level IT and non-IT leader who is responsible for delivering IT business objectives (OKRs, KPIs, strategies, etc.) that require a change in behavior and upskilling for people; updated business processes; and/or significant technology deployment.


Topics include:

  • Change management fundamentals and alternatives: definitions and models
  • How change management is leveraged differently at the executive level vs. mid-level
  • Its relationship to other programming: strategy, project management, HR, budgeting, etc.
  • How to integrate change management into existing business process
  • Defining success and unconscious biases that keep initiatives stuck
  • Communication strategies for stakeholders, rate of adoption, and other perspectives
  • Facilitation, influence, and interpersonal skills
  • Roles and responsibilities of stakeholders 

As business process re-engineering (BPR) initiatives continue to accelerate the digital transformation of their industry, they are focusing their investments in leveraging information technology to improve their processes and lower overall costs. In today’s highly regulated, increasingly resource-constrained, and cost-focused environment it is essential to understand how to effectively and efficiently manage an organization’s information technology (IT) resources. There are numerous strategic, tactical, and operational choices to be made about managing business processes and it is essential to ensure that IT and non-IT executives across the organization work in harmony.


Experience has made it clear that business processes need well-conceived organizational structures, skills, processes, and decision rights to ensure that IT investments are appropriately leveraged across internal and external organizations, especially when considering the impact of emerging information technologies. 


This course prepares executives/professionals engaged in business process re-engineering initiatives by providing a comprehensive understanding of the fundamental decisions related to the management of IT resources in the BPR environment. The course will also provide an overview of current and future relevant BPR information technologies and their potential impact on organizations and associated stakeholders.


The course is designed to be delivered live/synchronously (face-to-face or online) with a total of twenty (20) contact hours. While the schedule is flexible, it is usually delivered in approximately ten (10) 2-hour modules/lectures/sessions.


The IT-Business Process Management topics include:

  • Deriving IT-business strategies
  • Considerations for types of
  • organizational structure
  • sourcing
  • governance (i.e., decision-making and decision rights)
  • roles/responsibilities
  • processes
  • Leverage emerging digital technologies
  • The business value of IT
  • The definition, concepts, and contexts of BPR IT
  • Enhancing business-IT alignment
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