What are the best practices for creating a BPM center of excellence?

2 Establish the roles and governance

The second step to creating a BPM CoE is to establish the roles and governance. You need to identify the key roles and responsibilities of the CoE members, such as process owners, analysts, designers, developers, testers, and managers. You also need to define the governance structure and processes of the CoE, such as how decisions are made, how projects are selected and prioritized, how performance is measured and reported, and how risks are managed and mitigated. A well-defined roles and governance will help to ensure accountability, transparency, and collaboration within the CoE, and to align the CoE activities with the business needs and expectations.

3 Build the capabilities and competencies

The third step to creating a BPM CoE is to build the capabilities and competencies. You need to assess the current state of your BPM maturity, skills, and resources, and identify the gaps and opportunities for improvement. You also need to plan and execute the training, coaching, and mentoring programs for the CoE members, and to foster a continuous learning and development culture. Additionally, you need to select and adopt the appropriate tools, methods, and standards for BPM, such as process modeling, analysis, automation, monitoring, and optimization. A strong capabilities and competencies will help to enhance the quality, efficiency, and innovation of your BPM solutions, and to increase the value and impact of the CoE.

4 Engage the stakeholders and customers

The fourth step to creating a BPM CoE is to engage the stakeholders and customers. You need to identify and understand the needs, expectations, and feedback of the various stakeholders and customers involved in or affected by your BPM projects, such as business units, functions, departments, partners, suppliers, and end-users. You also need to establish and maintain effective communication and collaboration channels with them, and to involve them in the design, implementation, and evaluation of your BPM solutions. A high level of engagement will help to build trust, credibility, and support for the CoE, and to ensure the relevance and usability of your BPM solutions.

6 Learn and improve continuously

The sixth and final step to creating a BPM CoE is to learn and improve continuously. You need to monitor and evaluate the performance and effectiveness of your CoE, and to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats for improvement. You also need to collect and analyze the feedback and lessons learned from your BPM projects, and to implement the necessary changes and enhancements to your CoE processes, practices, and capabilities. A continuous learning and improvement cycle will help to keep your CoE relevant, agile, and competitive, and to foster a culture of process excellence and innovation.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?