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11 – 20 of over 6000Anna Darmani and Payam Hanafizadeh
In today's societies, work environment and customers' expectations change on a daily manner. Consequently, it is crucial for companies to find a way for adapting themselves to new…
Abstract
Purpose
In today's societies, work environment and customers' expectations change on a daily manner. Consequently, it is crucial for companies to find a way for adapting themselves to new requirements. For this purpose, reengineering projects have been introduced and evolved in different companies with different responsibilities over the past decades. However, the risk associated with these projects is inevitable and is a huge obstacle on the way of their implementation. This study, in line with previous studies, contributed in this context by proposing a new methodology for selecting suitable processes and adopted best practices candidate for business process reengineering (BPR). The proposed methodology aims to achieve lower risk and higher probability of success for BPR projects.
Design/methodology/approach
This objective is achieved by integration of the concept of portfolio selection problems (PSP) into the organizational decision making concerning BPR project. A model for selection of most appropriate reengineering scenarios, which is a combination of processes and best practices, is adopted and proposed. This model by putting additional constraints on risks associated with a BPR project and increasing its return identifies the most prosperous portfolio of scenarios for a reengineering project. The proposed model is tested step-by-step through a case study in order to validate its outcome and justify its practicality.
Findings
In this paper, a new methodology is proposed containing a model as a managerial tool for conducting more successful reengineering projects. The applicability of the methodology is tested in one of the largest metallurgical laboratory and research centers of Iran. Four strategic processes were selected and several best practices customized, after screening all processes of the case study. Accordingly, in total, 15 different scenarios were explored for the reengineering project in which four of them identified by the model as the processes with the highest possibility of success through the BPR project.
Originality/value
This methodology suggests a novel way to benefit from PSP for process selection problems by putting additional control on implementation risk of reengineering project. While the urge of using reengineering project exists within the current companies, the high level of risk of these projects is considered as a huge obstacle in conducting this project. This study, by proposing a new method, aims to address this issue as well as point to the practicality of integrating PSP model in organizational contexts.
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Penninah Syombua Musangi, Damaris Odero and Tom Kwanya
Academic libraries are reengineering their services to address the gap brought about by the convergence of physical and virtual information landscape. Despite the reengineering…
Abstract
Purpose
Academic libraries are reengineering their services to address the gap brought about by the convergence of physical and virtual information landscape. Despite the reengineering efforts, as many as 70 per cent of the libraries do not achieve the expected results. Certain critical success factors need to be in place for successful implementation. This paper aims to investigate the key success factors to service reengineering in an effort to establish their extent of application in university libraries in Kenya.
Design/methodology/approach
A multiple case study approach of six purposively selected private and public university libraries in Kenya based on Webometric ranking as an indicator of reengineering was used. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews with 30 librarians. The qualitative data collected were analyzed through content analysis.
Findings
The following key success factors were found to have been considered during reengineering: top management commitment, planning, provision of required resources, appropriate IT infrastructure, presence of skilled and competent staff, value of the library to the university and teamwork. Despite the central role of training, change management program and having a clear vision and objectives, university libraries in Kenya did not pay any attention to them as deserved. The authors conclude that university libraries in Kenya have not optimally achieved the desired reengineering results as a result of overlooking training and change management as critical success factors. The paper recommends that the identified critical success factors should be considered wholly not in isolation.
Research limitations/implications
The study was carried out among the top-ranked universities according to the January 2017 Webometric ranking; and therefore the findings may give a general indication of the critical success factors considered by university libraries in Kenya. However, this pre-condition may have locked out other libraries that may have made some recommendable strides in re-engineering their services.
Originality/value
This study has practical implications in identifying the critical success factors for library service reengineering to provide insights on the factors to consider as librarians reengineer library services.
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M.F.F. Fasna and Sachie Gunatilake
The purpose of this paper is to analyse the business process reengineering (BPR) implementation process adopted by organisations grounded in the actual project-level realities…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to analyse the business process reengineering (BPR) implementation process adopted by organisations grounded in the actual project-level realities. The findings are used to propose a BPR implementation process that can be adopted by organisations to effectively reengineer their processes.
Design/methodology/approach
A thorough literature review was used to first develop a conceptual BPR implementation process comprising three key phases and five steps. Then, four case studies were conducted in organisations that have successfully undertaken BPR projects to explore the actual project-level implementation processes. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with respondents who have been actively involved in the different steps of the BPR implementation processes to collect data within the selected organisations.
Findings
Altogether 30 activities which are to be carried out throughout the BPR implementation process were identified. Findings disclosed that the minor differences in the activities being performed throughout the BPR implementation process are due to the lack of homogenous characteristics, i.e. type of the process reengineered, form of reengineering and approach for implementing BPR projects.
Originality/value
This paper puts forward a comprehensive view on the BPR implementation process including the key phases, steps and the sequence of activities to be followed. In doing so, the paper addresses a clear gap in literature that calls for a comprehensive model to assist during the BPR implementation to achieve the desired results.
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M.F.F. Fasna and Sachie Gunatilake
Currently, most of the organisations that undertake business process reengineering (BPR) projects with the intention of enhancing their business performance are encountering…
Abstract
Purpose
Currently, most of the organisations that undertake business process reengineering (BPR) projects with the intention of enhancing their business performance are encountering several issues throughout their endeavours. As these BPR implementation issues are perceived as one of the key contributory factors leading to BPR project failures, it is crucial to adopt timely strategies to overcome these issues. Hence, this study is focused on identifying the strategies to be adopted to overcome BPR implementation issues.
Design/methodology/approach
Four case studies were conducted in organisations that have successfully implemented BPR projects within last five years. In total, 14 semi-structured interviews were conducted among the different stakeholders who got involved in the selected BPR projects for identifying the issues faced and the strategies that they have adopted during their project implementation.
Findings
Study derived twenty-seven issues faced by the Sri Lankan organisations during different phases of BPR projects, and forty-five unique strategies to deal with these derived BPR implementation issues.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the field by exploring the issues in implementing BPR projects that should be given enough consideration to ensure the success of BPR projects in the Sri Lankan context along with the strategies to overcome the issues encountered throughout them. It is expected that the findings of this study would be useful in ensuring the success of future BPR projects.
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Gideon Nkurunziza, John Munene, Joseph Ntayi and Will Kaberuka
The purpose of this paper is to study the relationship between organizational adaptability, institutional leadership and business process reengineering performance using the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to study the relationship between organizational adaptability, institutional leadership and business process reengineering performance using the tested complexity theory in a developing economy setting.
Design/methodology/approach
This study is correlation and cross-sectional and adopts institutional-level data collected via questionnaires from reengineered microfinance institutions in Uganda. Cluster analysis as data mining technique was used to classify cases based on respondents’ opinions into homogeneous clusters. Nvivo was used to understand the perceptions of business process reengineering performance based on qualitative data. The authors used structural equation modeling to derive the predictive model of business process reengineering performance in a developing world setting.
Findings
The authors find that organizational adaptability and institutional leadership are key predictors of business process reengineering performance. Results reveal a predictive model of 61 per cent based on structural equation modeling for the study variables. Cluster analysis as data mining approach explored complex patterns of reengineered business processes.
Research limitations/implications
The use of cluster analysis is susceptible to problems associated with sampling error and absence of fit indices. However, the likelihood of these problems is reduced by the interaction with the data, practical implications and use of smart partial least square to generate structural equations based on derived measurement models of each study variable.
Practical implications
Policymakers of Bank of Uganda, Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, should develop sound policies in relation to knowledge management, institutional leadership and adaptive mechanisms to enhance business process reengineering performance to take advantage of new knowledge opportunities for the improvement of their businesses.
Social implications
Given the results from structural equations generated, managers need to consider institutional leadership and organizational adaptability as key drivers of business process reengineering performance in microfinance institutions. The results confirm the significant role of institutional leadership, organizational adaptability in determining business process reengineering performance outcomes.
Originality/value
Unlike most of the business process reengineering literature, this study contributes to literature by domesticating and testing complexity theory to explain business process reengineering performance in developing economies.
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Timothy W. Aurand, Denise D. Schoenbachler and Geoffrey L. Gordon
One of the most popular topics in American business today is reengineering. Rarely has such a misunderstood term been embraced so widely in theory and in practice. Numerous…
Abstract
One of the most popular topics in American business today is reengineering. Rarely has such a misunderstood term been embraced so widely in theory and in practice. Numerous definitions and lists of key components to successful reengineering have confused managers as to what reengineering is in theory and in practice. Brings together the diverse literature and identifies clearly the activities, questions and process changes theorized to be necessary in reengineering efforts. In addition, reports the results of a survey designed to assess which of these purported activities, questions and process changes are, in practice, part of reengineering efforts as perceived by marketing professionals. Over 200 marketing professionals revealed their perception of firms’ involvement in reengineering, and evaluated involvement in key activities, process changes and asking of fundamental questions. The results reveal interesting discrepancies between theoretical reengineering and reengineering in practice. Implies that reengineering may not be a black‐and‐white issue, but rather exist on a gray continuum.
Stephan Zinser, Armin Baumgärtner and Frank‐Steffen Walliser
Successful reengineering requires a systematic procedure for the useful implementation of methods and tools as well as a consideration of critical success factors. As an example…
Abstract
Successful reengineering requires a systematic procedure for the useful implementation of methods and tools as well as a consideration of critical success factors. As an example of the reengineering of prototype part procurement in Porsche AG’s development centre, a specially developed 3x3 reengineering procedure is represented which not only implements methods and tools but also the reengineering project structure and experiences gained from it. The main aim of re‐engineering was to reduce the running time of the part procurement from 30 days to just one. This means a simultaneous reduction of the prototype construction time to about 20 hours. From results it can be established that after 20 weeks the success of the reengineering stabilised and the targeted running time of one day became apparent. The accompanying project evaluation crystallised various success factors. In particular the establishment of a competent and motivated team leader, as well as on‐line process controlling supported by IT implementation, have proved to be a successfully decisive measure and tool respectively.
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Business process reengineering, although initially developed for and within the private sector, is an approach that can form a valuable part of information age reform if it can…
Abstract
Business process reengineering, although initially developed for and within the private sector, is an approach that can form a valuable part of information age reform if it can transform the work processes of public sector organisations. Information technology (IT) has played a central role in reengineering. This chapter therefore describes many ways in which IT can be used to support public sector reengineering, including applications identified from analysis of the ‘political value chain’. Nevertheless, IT-supported reengineering originated from technical/rational organisational models that do not necessarily reflect the realities of the public sector. The chapter therefore proposes the concept of public sector process rebuilding (PUPREB): an approach to reengineering that includes a special awareness of the public sector context.
Centers on motivation in work organizations, yesterday, today and tomorrow. To retain qualified employees in an organization and to maintain a satisfactory type of role…
Abstract
Centers on motivation in work organizations, yesterday, today and tomorrow. To retain qualified employees in an organization and to maintain a satisfactory type of role performance, people’s experiences in the system must be rewarding, particularly if they have freedom to move in and out of organizations. Motivating people to work in the twenty‐first century with theories conceived in the 1800s and early 1900s is likely to be infeasible. After reviewing the major events in the management history of the last 100 years, the authors try to distill the knowledge that will help illuminate the motivation path for present and future managers. The core message is that managers should reconsider the outdated motivational patterns utilized to maintain role performance in organizations. The authors propose a fresh motivation formula for the twenty‐first century, based on “friendship, work and respect”.
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Mihyar Hesson, Hayder Al‐Ameed and Muhammad Samaka
To reengineer the applications' processes of the land department of Al‐Ain Municipality and to develop an electronic version of the reengineered processes.
Abstract
Purpose
To reengineer the applications' processes of the land department of Al‐Ain Municipality and to develop an electronic version of the reengineered processes.
Design/methodology/approach
The research approach used in this work is similar to the five‐point incremental approach and the work of Gunasekaran et al. These steps are: establishment of the business vision and objectives; identification and focus on the core business processes that support them; modeling and analysis of the business environment; streamlining; and continuous control and improvement of previous steps.
Findings
The best possible solution for shorter and more efficient processing path was achieved. Great savings in cost, time and human resources were achieved. Many factors have contributed to the success of the work. These include the efficient reengineered process, efficient database design, search facilities, electronic document archive and easy‐to‐use user interface.
Practical implications
The authors were not absolutely free to select the model they think is better. There were some critical factors that had to be considered. Perhaps, one of the most serious obstacles was the reluctance of some key decision makers to cease or reduce some of their authorities. Those officers believe that a direct supervision or control on the different stages of the processes is essential. The justification given is that the issue of land allocation is critical and may be problematic. Special considerations may be required under certain circumstances and these are only dealt with by key decision makers. Other factors such as reluctance of the users for change, job redundancy resulting from the change and financial resources were important but less significant. Therefore, many models were suggested before the final one was agreed on.
Originality/value
The paper is a case study that describes the reengineering processes in the public sector in UAE. This sector suffers from a great deficiency and this work represents a leading step towards improving its working practices. The value of the paper lies in the comprehensive study and analysis of this department and the efficient customized solutions it offered.
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