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Business
Process Management Articles
Using the Single Most Powerful
Process Improvement Tool
Don D. Harris, Rath and Strong,
iSixSigma Insights Website and Newsletter, August 27, 2007.
If an
organization could choose only one method for unlocking value
quickly, what approach should rise to the top of the list? If a
company could adopt only one method for shaping it's culture toward
continuous improvement, what tool should it use? The answer to both
questions is Work-out. Work-out certainly should not be the only
process improvement tool employed - far from it. The power and
utility of Lean Six Sigma and Design for Six Sigma and other
analytically intensive methodologies are unquestioned, and these
tools have generated enormous value in a wide variety of settings.
But, perhaps because of its relative simplicity, Work-out is often
underemphasized - and underutilized - as complement to these
well-proven approaches.
Business Process Management - If You
Have a Hammer
Caspar Hunsche,Process Core Group, BPM Institute
Website and Newsletter, August
28, 2007.
In this article, Caspar Hunsche argues that the Source, Make,
Deliver and Return processes in Standardized Reference Models in
Supply Chains like SCOR can be applied to Service Processes
also.
The Big Six Sigma
Myths
Marvin M. Wurtzel, Marvin M. Wurtzel & Associates,
BPM Institute Newsletter and Website, August 23,
2007.
Consultant
Marvin Wurtzel identifies ten "daunting" myths about Six Sigma. He
points out that Six Sigma is not strictly for manufacturing
processes and that it does work with Business Process Management. He
opines that "any company can take advantage of the principles of Six
Sigma to achieve continuous improvement of their processes resulting
in improved customer satisfaction, leading to millions of dollars in
cost savings and profitability." applying Six Sigma.
The Foundation for Successful Performance
Management
Shyamala
Sadananda, Infosys Technologies, BI Review Newsletter and Website, August 9,
2007.
Information is critical to managing
business change. Rapidly reacting to business events and proactive
business planning requires accurate and timely information. Building
a performance management solution would mean constantly managing
corporate data with the right portfolio of tools and technologies.
Understanding and analyzing corporate data becomes easier within the
context of an enterprise information management framework.
Which Countries Lead in Performance
Management?
Gary Cokins,
BI Review Newsletter and Website, August 23,
2007.
Having visited
30+ countries, Gary Cokins analyzes the strengths of various
countries when it comes which competencies stand out as excellent
performers. And what do they manage well?
The Real Measure of Great End-User
Services
Joe Hogan, CIO Insider Newsletter and
Website, August 29, 2007.
Escape the SLA trap! Service level agreements are necessary
to provide a base level of metrics for IT support performance, but
sole reliance on SLAs is likely to create unhappy and even
unproductive users.
Achieving Yokoten in the Process of
Risk Management
Muthuvelan
Varadharajulu,
Carsten Rommel, Bosch Group, iSixSigma Website and Newsletter,
September 3, 2007.
Risk
management is a systematic process to handle risks in every aspect
of a project. Yet despite the need to manage risks with care, Six
Sigma teams and others involved in projects can get ahead of the
curve on addressing risks via Yokoten. Achieving Yokoten for risk
management makes the organization understand the risks, earlier and
better. This facilitates the project teams to plan the actions
proactively to avoid risks at an early stage of projects rather than
to act reactively. That will save lots of time, effort and
money.
Minimize the Risk of the Unknown in
Six Sigma Projects
Robert
B.Tripp, Six Sigma
Advantage, iSixSigma Insights Website and Newsletter, August
29, 2007.
More
often than not, it is the unknown that causes project failures. No
single technique exists to ensure decision-making integrity; there
are, however, several tools and disciplines that exist as
checks-and-balances.
Business Process Outsourcing
Articles
A Simple Way To Use Core Competency and Financial
Impact Analysis in Outsourcing Planning
Nari Kannan, Ajira Technologies, Inc., Sourcingmag.com
Newsletter and
Website, August 27, 2007.
Outsourcing
introduces a new wrinkle when handling the core competencies of any
company. Which business processes do you outsource? Having rules
such as, "Outsource non-core competencies but not core
competencies," just doesn't work that well anymore. Here's a
systematic approach the Financial Impact of various business
processes on the company that is outsourcing.
Retail Promotions: Gaining Advantage
from Global Services
NeoIT Newsletter
and Website,
August, 2007.
The
latest neoIT's research brief "Retail Promotions: Gaining Advantage
from Global Services" explores the promotional spend in the retail
industry and the steps to maximizing promotion effectiveness. It
also discusses the differences between traditional information
technology outsourcing (ITO) and business processes outsourcing
(BPO) services to improve promotions. The brief covers the core
competencies that retailers should focus on in-house to maximize
profitability and those that they should globalize to avail the
opportunity to analyze more data more quickly while managing costs.
IT Support Portal in
2010
Ron Muns, The Muns
Report Newsletter and Website, Help Desk Institute, August 29,
2007
Support cost will continue to be a concern. It
is not an issue unique to IT or IT support, it is a concern for
every area of any organization. The cost of support will be less on
phone and more on technology, openness, and collaboration. Thus the
IT support portal will be a requirement in 2010.
Six Sigma: Let the data lead you to
quality software
Colleen
Frye,
Software Quality News Newsletter
and Website,
August 22, 2007.
IT
organizations are successfully using a variety of quantitative and
qualitative tools in their Six Sigma initiatives to improve software
quality and processes.
Involving Suppliers in Six Sigma; Fostering Lean Six
Sigma
Andreas
Kleinert, iSixSigma Europe Newsletter and Website,
August 23, 2007.
As companies concentrate on design
and outsource more of the order fulfillment process, including
manufacturing, their quality image is dependent on supplier
performance. So, when is the time to involve suppliers in a quality
improvement initiative?
Large Players Eager to get the KPO
Tag
ValueNotes Database
Newsletter and Website,
August 1, 2007.
Having built a brand in the BPO space, large
BPOs such as WNS, EXLService, Wipro and Genpact are ready to make a
mark in the 'knowledge services' space. Several of these companies
have already tested the space and are now looking to grow their
"KPO" business both organically and inorganically.
Benefits
Administration: Offshore Opportunity in The
Mid-market
ValueNotes
Database Newsletter and
Website, August 8, 2007.
The global HR outsourcing market is estimated
to cross $78.8 billion by 2010 according to Global Industry
Analysts. Here are the major players.
Growth in
Knowledge Services
ValueNotes
Database Newsletter and
Website, August 22, 2007.
In the last two years, a large number of
entrepreneurs have started KPO outfits and several large
multi-service BPOs have added knowledge services to their
offerings
Notable
News
Why Do Tech-Support Responses Often Seem
Slow?
Eric Chabrow, CIO
Insight Newsletter and Website,
August 30, 2007.
Perhaps it's because the number of computer support
specialists in the U.S. has fallen by nearly 12% since 2001. No
wonder many CIOs say their companies technical support teams are 40%
smaller than they should be.
Aligning I.T. and
Business
John McCormick,
Baseline Magazine Newsletter
and Website,
August 7, 2007.
Business leaders and tech execs still aren't on
the same page. How wasteful is that?
Large-Scale Six Sigma Initiative Improves Patient
Care
Tomas
A.Gonzalez.M.D, Matiana Vela EdD,Tracy Kirkonnel MBA, Valley Baptist
Health System, iSixSigma Health Newsletter and Website, August 29,
2007.
Several years
ago, Valley Baptist Health System (VBHS) decided to launch a
large-scale performance improvement initiative based on Six Sigma
and change management. By any measure, the strategy has been a
success. Valley Baptist has become a model for other healthcare
organizations to follow – improving the quality of care, raising
satisfaction and increasing efficiency across the continuum of
care.
Eight of the Worst Spreadsheet
Blunders
Thomas
Wailgum, CIO Enterprise
Newsletter and Website, August 17,
2007.
Spreadsheet typos and oversights can wind up costing your
company millions. Here's a look at eight big mistakes, and tips on
how to prevent them from happening at your company.
Wachovia IT Exec Scott Flemming Focuses on
Process
Nancy Feig, Bank Systems and Technology, August 24,
2007.
While calling Scott Flemming process "obsessed" may be a bit
of a hyperbole, process improvement is something he has trouble
checking at the door to his home. "The biggest carryover from my IT
background has to do with the analytical approaches I apply to my
home and family," he relates.
Banks Must Engage Customers to Secure Online
Transactions
Maria-Bruno Britz,
Bank Systems & Technology, August 25,
2007.
Securing online banking requires cooperation among banks,
customers and vendors.
Legacy Systems Yield To Modern
Technologies
Anthony O'Donnell,
Insurance &Technology, September 1, 2007.
The continued success of newer technology
platforms is clarifying the likely future state of policy admin
systems and reshaping how carriers large and small think about
legacy migration.
Notable
Events
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