What are the best practices and lessons learned from successful re-engineering projects?

1 Define the scope and objectives

The first step in any BPR project is to clearly define the scope and objectives of the re-engineering effort. This involves identifying the key processes that need to be redesigned, the problems and opportunities that exist, the desired outcomes and performance measures, and the stakeholders and customers that are affected. A clear and realistic scope and objectives will help to align the vision, strategy, and expectations of the project team and the senior management, and to avoid scope creep and conflicting priorities.

2 Analyze the current state

The next step is to analyze the current state of the processes that are targeted for re-engineering. This involves mapping out the existing process flows, inputs, outputs, activities, roles, resources, controls, and performance indicators. The purpose of this analysis is to understand how the current processes work, what are the sources of inefficiency, waste, variation, and dissatisfaction, and what are the gaps and opportunities for improvement. A thorough and objective analysis will help to identify the root causes of the problems and to generate ideas for re-engineering.

3 Design the future state

The third step is to design the future state of the processes that are re-engineered. This involves creating new process flows, inputs, outputs, activities, roles, resources, controls, and performance indicators that are aligned with the scope and objectives of the project. The design of the future state should be based on best practices, benchmarks, customer feedback, innovation, and technology. The design should also consider the feasibility, impact, and risks of the proposed changes. A creative and customer-focused design will help to achieve the desired outcomes and performance measures of the project.

4 Implement the changes

The fourth step is to implement the changes that are designed for the re-engineered processes. This involves preparing and executing a detailed implementation plan that covers the tasks, timelines, responsibilities, resources, communication, training, testing, and change management aspects of the project. The implementation of the changes should be done in a systematic and iterative manner, with frequent feedback and monitoring of the progress and results. A successful implementation will require the commitment, involvement, and support of the project team, the senior management, and the stakeholders and customers.

5 Evaluate the results

The final step is to evaluate the results of the re-engineering project. This involves measuring and comparing the performance indicators of the re-engineered processes against the baseline and the objectives of the project. The evaluation should also include collecting and analyzing the feedback and satisfaction of the stakeholders and customers, and identifying the lessons learned and the best practices from the project. The evaluation should be done in a timely and transparent manner, and should lead to continuous improvement and learning.