As a “process person” it is not easy to think that process is not the be-all and end-all of the world. Process is where the work within organisations is performed, but we all know that work in itself can be a misnomer. Work should be about doing the right things, not just doing things right – so work in itself needs to be guided. How do we do that?
I have always tried to demonstrate how Enterprise Architecture (EA) and process connect. Many years ago I thought EA was the domain of technical boffins designing technical architecture – but it’s not. EA is about alignment throughout the organisation, and particularly it’s about delivering business benefits.
Enterprise architecture should start with the most important person of all – the customer. The business then defines their offering to customers in the form of their business strategy. The question then is how do we make that strategy a reality? By developing the concept of business services – i.e. services provided to enable the business strategy (each with it’s own lifecycle). Business services are supported by our old friend business processes – where the work happens. Business processes are a combination of manual and automated processes, supported by technology (also in the form of services).
By taking an holistic approach we bring all of the elements of enterprise architecture and process into alignment with the customer, and from the customer down we deliver upon that alignment. So rather than thinking about processes in a vacuum, we must always consider the bigger picture. Customer and business focused enterprise architecture can provide a framework by which business processes can really deliver.
So whilst EA and process might have seen to be uncommon bedfellows in the past, it’s time they snuggle up together and make beautiful business benefits.
SOURCE: processigroup.com.au
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