The fact that 'bad processes lead to bad outcomes' is one of the oldest cliches in the book, hence it is perhaps unsurprising that many more enterprises are adopting frameworks such as CobiT, Val IT and ITIL to help them formalise and optimise their business and IT processes for efficiency, effectiveness and cost optimisation. Whatever the benefits may be, process improvement is never easy. It needs to be approached and managed in a properly disciplined and formalised way through a programme of activities requiring proper constituent buy-in, management and governance. It will not come for free, requiring investment of time and resource, together with commitment from the top. Such a programme, as with any investment, will require prior justification and approval with the costs and the benefits fully articulated and quantified.
A new research paper from ISACA (www.isaca.org) 'Building the Business Case for CobiT and Val IT' should provide particularly useful and timely for those enterprises wishing to embark on a process improvement programme yet who may be struggling with preparing their own business case. The research, carried out by the University of Antwerp Management School, provides convincing evidence of the correlation between enhanced business and IT processes and business success. The paper is based upon global multi-industry research with almost 600 enterprises responding to the detailed survey upon which the findings are based. Although the research will not help directly in formulating your own business case - which necessarilly will need to take into account your own circumstances, maturity and priorities, it will provide useful background material to help with the justification. It also provides useful evidence of which key processes potentially provide the greatest value in terms of achieving both IT and business goals.
All in all a very useful read to help any enterprise in their quest for enhanced value from investment in IT.
A new research paper from ISACA (www.isaca.org) 'Building the Business Case for CobiT and Val IT' should provide particularly useful and timely for those enterprises wishing to embark on a process improvement programme yet who may be struggling with preparing their own business case. The research, carried out by the University of Antwerp Management School, provides convincing evidence of the correlation between enhanced business and IT processes and business success. The paper is based upon global multi-industry research with almost 600 enterprises responding to the detailed survey upon which the findings are based. Although the research will not help directly in formulating your own business case - which necessarilly will need to take into account your own circumstances, maturity and priorities, it will provide useful background material to help with the justification. It also provides useful evidence of which key processes potentially provide the greatest value in terms of achieving both IT and business goals.
All in all a very useful read to help any enterprise in their quest for enhanced value from investment in IT.
Today, there are a number of useful process improvement techniques available for organizations to use and implement. These include CMMI, ISO series, Baldridge, Lean, Six Sigma, Total Quality Management, Toyota Production System and many others. However, despite the clear benefits that a process improvement program can provide to companies, many organizations simply have difficulties when it comes to implementing and sustaining a process improvement program in an effective manner.