7 Hurdles to Clear for Effective Business Process Re-engineering

 As business environments continue to progress at a rapid pace, it is crucial for companies to consistently modify and reassess their internal processes and the way they operate.

One approach to achieving this is through Business Process Re-engineering (BPR), a strategic method that involves rethinking and redesigning how work is performed to improve efficiency, flexibility and even profitability.

 While BPR can bring about incalculable benefits to a business, its implementation often comes with a unique set of challenges. And whether you plan to undertake the BPR yourself or rely on the expertise of the best business consultants in the UAE, you must be aware of the common pitfalls and have a comprehensive plan in place. 

7 Barriers to Successful BPR Execution

There are several potential barriers to business process re-engineering implementation, such as: 

1. Identifying and Prioritizing Processes for Re-engineering 

One of the first obstacles to implementing BPR is correctly identifying which processes should undergo re-engineering. Not all processes are suitable candidates, and the selection process requires careful consideration and analysis. 

To overcome this challenge, you should establish criteria for prioritizing processes. Some of the factors that could help narrow down the selection process include: 

●       The process's impact on customer satisfaction.

●       Its contribution to the organization's competitive advantage.

●       The potential for cost savings or revenue generation. 

You could also use mapping techniques to visualize the current state of a given process, locate bottlenecks, and see where re-engineering could be beneficial.

2. Resistance to Change 

Implementing BPR often involves significant changes to existing processes and structures. Such changes can be met with resistance from your employees for a few reasons — for example, fear of job loss, increased workload or loss of control over their work. 

Addressing employee opposition starts with organizations being as transparent as possible throughout the BPR initiative. Explain the reasons for the changes, the expected benefits, and the potential impact on your team. That way, you'll alleviate some of their fears and help them rally behind a common goal. 

You could also involve employees in the BPR process itself – solicit their feedback on ideas, techniques, and technologies that could be used. This could foster a sense of ownership and commitment to the new way of doing things.

3. Aligning BPR with Organizational Goals 

For BPR initiatives to succeed, they must align with an organization's overall goals and objectives. Neglecting this step can lead to misdirected efforts, wasted resources, and a lack of support from key stakeholders. 

To ensure your BPR efforts align with the business strategy, you should incorporate BPR planning into the overall strategic business planning. 

For instance, if your organization's ultimate objective is to expand its market presence, you could concentrate on procedures that aid in achieving this, such as enhancing production efficiency or improving the customer journey. 

Additionally, you should regularly review and adjust the BPR process to ensure it remains in sync with changing conditions and priorities.

 

4. Establishing Cross-functional Teams 

Carrying out BPR initiatives typically demands cooperative efforts from employees in various departments and functional domains within an organization.

 However, assembling efficient cross-functional teams can be a complex task due to the different fields of expertise, competing priorities, and unique communication styles of each individual involved. 

As the person in charge of assembling those teams, you'll want to carefully select people with masterful skills and experiences who can effectively contribute to the process. 

Clarify the roles and responsibilities and fill everyone in on the timeline and objectives. This will improve the cross-functional teams' ability to work cohesively.

5. Managing Time and Resources 

Balancing the time and resources required for BPR efforts with ongoing business operations can feel like walking a tightrope. You must allocate sufficient resources to your BPR initiative without compromising the day-to-day functioning of the business. 

Start by developing a realistic timeline to manage your resources more effectively. This involves breaking down the project into smaller tasks, estimating the time required for each one, and identifying dependencies between them.

 Next, identify and analyze the resources required for each task. This could include personnel, technology, and finances. This step allows you to plan the project's progression and lock in the resources needed at the right time.

6. Ensuring Continuous Improvement

 A fundamental principle of BPR is the pursuit of continuous improvement. Nonetheless, maintaining the drive for ongoing enhancement after realizing your first BPR milestones can be tough.

 To sustain an improvement-oriented attitude, set up a system that allows for regular reviews of the BPR outcomes, pinpoint areas that could benefit from further refinement, and encourage a re-evaluation of processes when necessary.

 For instance, If your BPR initiative was to reduce production times through restructuring the supply chain, you might establish a specialized team or designate a BPR leader to supervise that ongoing endeavor. This could involve regularly evaluating the performance of suppliers and maintaining a continuous dialogue with them.

 In doing so, you'll have built an environment that promotes collaboration, empowers teams to think beyond the pre-existing processes, and focuses on results.

 

7. Measuring BPR Success

 The outcomes of your BPR project may not always be immediately apparent or easily quantifiable. That's why you must establish precise methods for measuring their impact.

 For example, if your BPR initiative aims to improve customer satisfaction, you could measure metrics such as customer retention rates, average response times or Net Promoter Scores (NPS). If the focus is on cost savings, you might track metrics like cost per unit, labor costs or inventory levels.

 Regularly monitoring and analyzing these KPIs will provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of your BPR efforts. What's more, it enables you to make data-driven decisions, adjust your strategies as needed, and showcase the positive impact of the re-engineering process to stakeholders.

 

The Road to BPR Success

BPR is a multilayered undertaking with many facets to consider. But if done right, it can help you question traditional working methods, eliminate workflow inefficiencies, and transform how you approach business processes.

 And by understanding the barriers you might face, you now know how best to anticipate and overcome them. 

AUTHOR BIO

 Mini Madhavan is a Management Consulting Partner at Affility, a comprehensive advisory services firm assisting clients in the UAE and worldwide with IT, risk and management consulting solutions. A specialist Audit and Consulting Professional with over 12 years of experience, Mini is an EY alumnus, a Fellow Member of ACCA who helps Entrepreneurs and Business leaders to accomplish their business goals by planning, optimizing and implementing their business processes.