The BPM Maturity Model. Towards a Framework for Assessing the Business Process Management Maturity of Organisations

Table of Contents

1 Introduction

1.1 Motivation

1.2 Research Objective and Research Questions

1.3 Structure of the Thesis

2 Literature Review

2.1 Business Process Management

2.1.1 Definition and Classification of Business Processes

2.1.2 Business Process Lifecycle Management

2.1.3 Definition of Business Processes Management

2.1.4 Business Process Management Drivers and Benefits

2.1.5 Business Process Management Implementation Approaches

2.1.6 Critical Factors for Success or Failure of Business Process Management

2.1.7 Conclusions

2.2 Maturity

2.3 Maturity Models and Approaches

2.3.1 Maturity Models

2.3.2 Maturity Approaches

2.3.3 Comparison and Evaluation

2.3.4 Contribution to a Business Process Management Maturity Model

2.4 Conclusions

3 A-priori Business Process Management Maturity Model

3.1 Purpose of the Model

3.2 Maturity in the Context of the Model

3.2.1 Generic Maturity Levels

3.2.2 Criteria for Measuring Maturity

3.2.3 Generic Stage Requirement

3.3 Business Process Management Maturity Dimensions

3.3.1 Factors

3.3.2 Perspectives

3.3.3 Organisational Scope

3.3.4 Time Scope

3.4 4-Dimensional Business Process Management Maturity Framework

3.5 Independent and Dependent Variables

3.6 Application of the Model

3.7 Evaluation of Maturity

3.8 Comparison of the BPMM Model and the BPMM Benchmark

3.9 Conclusions

4 Research Methodology

4.1 Introduction

4.2 Case Study

4.2.1 Unit of Analysis

4.2.2 Generalisation

4.2.3 Reliability and Validity

4.2.4 Data Collection and Analysis

4.2.5 Anticipated Problems and Possible Solutions

5 Case Study

5.1 Purpose

5.2 Case Study Design

5.2.1 Structure

5.2.2 Sequence and Schedule

5.2.3 Analysis

5.2.4 Selection of Cases

5.3 Findings

5.3.1 Company A

5.3.2 Company B

5.3.3 Cross-Case Analysis

5.4 Reviewed Model

6 Conclusion

6.1 Thesis Summary

6.2 Limitations of the Model and the Empirical Research

6.3 Further Research

Objectives & Themes

The thesis aims to define Business Process Management (BPM) maturity and develop a comprehensive, diagnostic framework to assess and evaluate the BPM maturity of organizations. The study explores the connection between BPM maturity and achievable benefits, addressing the lack of structured foundations in current organizational approaches.

• Conceptualization and definition of BPM and BPM maturity.
• Evaluation of existing maturity models (e.g., CMM, EFQM) regarding their applicability to BPM.
• Development of an a-priori BPM maturity model (BPMM) utilizing factors and perspectives.
• Empirical testing of the proposed model via case studies in Australian organizations.
• Identification of critical success factors, barriers, and benefits related to BPM implementation.

Excerpt from the Book

Summary of Chapters

1 Introduction: Introduces the motivation, research objectives, and the overall structure of the thesis.

2 Literature Review: Provides an overview of BPM, maturity concepts, and evaluates existing maturity models and approaches.

3 A-priori Business Process Management Maturity Model: Presents the developed BPMM model, including its dimensions, maturity levels, and criteria for measurement.

4 Research Methodology: Discusses the research design, specifically focusing on the case study approach used for empirical testing.

5 Case Study: Details the empirical investigations conducted at two organizations, including findings and a review of the model based on practitioner feedback.

6 Conclusion: Summarizes the thesis findings, acknowledges limitations, and provides an outlook on further research opportunities.

Keywords

Business Process Management, BPM, Maturity Model, BPMM, Process Orientation, Organizational Change, Critical Success Factors, Performance Measurement, Methodology, Accountability, IT/IS, Case Study, Business Strategy, Process Lifecycle, Benchmarking

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the primary focus of this thesis?

This research focuses on defining Business Process Management (BPM) maturity and establishing a comprehensive, diagnostic model to assess the maturity levels of an organization's BPM practices.

What are the central themes discussed in the work?

Key themes include the definition and classification of business processes, the identification of BPM critical success factors, the evaluation of existing maturity models, and the development of a structured 4-dimensional maturity framework.

What is the primary goal of the research?

The primary goal is to provide organizations with a diagnostic tool that identifies their current BPM maturity status and helps them formulate strategies to reach higher levels of maturity.

Which scientific methods were applied?

The research combines an extensive literature review to build a theoretical model, followed by an empirical case study approach to test the model's relevance and practicality in real-world organizations.

What does the main body of the work cover?

The main body covers the theoretical definition of BPM, a critical review of current maturity models, the design of the new a-priori BPMM model, and a detailed analysis of findings from two case study organizations.

Which keywords characterize this work?

The work is characterized by terms such as Business Process Management, BPM, Maturity Model, BPMM, Organizational Change, and Critical Success Factors.

How does this model differ from existing software-focused models like CMM?

Unlike software-process-focused models, this BPMM model incorporates a broader, more holistic view of the entire organization, including cultural change, performance measurement, and organizational accountability.

What role does organizational culture play in the proposed model?

Organizational culture is identified as a critical success factor for BPM. In the model, it is a key dimension used to measure how successfully an organization embeds BPM practices into its internal environment.