by Jim Minihan, Document Magazine
04-01-2009
An examination of almost any business process will find the need for somebodies approval somewhere in that process. In today's world of transaction distribution it may take a number of somebodies in several somewheres to keep that process moving and reach completion.
Outsourcing, collaboration and specialization have become significant trends in many organizations. Whether it be an enterprise with global reach or a small company looking to push out administrivia to service providers to focus on core competencies, the reality of the modern enterprise is that we increasingly distribute business processes. Examples abound, UPS does not want to simply pick up and deliver your packages, they want to be your supply chain. Walmart expects its major suppliers to monitor store sales and deliver product as necessary...right to the store, forget the distribution center. Human resource activities, payroll and accounting functions are examples of business processes increasingly pushed outside. But every one of these activities still require “approval” of the transactions made on behalf of the enterprise. There should be no surprise that if the process being pushed out is a new one for us, we tend to want to stay very close to that process which means direct involvement with the approval process. As time goes on, there is a tendency to relax or delegate some of that control to some one else...as long as we know who to hang when it goes bad. But after all is said and done, we still need an indication of approval and often several of them.
In many respects it appears to be almost comical. You spend time and effort working out the details of the process, the checks and balances and who does what and implement a process management system to control it all and then it comes to a grinding halt waiting on...paper and (that all important indication that all is well and blessed)...the signature.
Business process automation can do a lot, but often elements of the process need approval. These approvals are often highly significant and must wi
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