During the second half of 2009, Burton Group is conducting a qualitative research project to assess business, cultural, and technology trends driving business process management (BPM) efforts within the enterprise. We want to understand how organizations are deriving value from BPM. We want to gain insight into the factors that enable them to succeed, and the barriers causing failure. What is the set of product requirements that enable effective and efficient business process design, implementation, integration, execution, monitoring, and management?
A mix of face-to-face and telephone interviews will be the methods used for data collection. Our goal is to have an open-ended dialog with participants from business units and IT groups. The project is open to Burton Group clients and non-clients alike. Some participant roles we are looking to interview include:
· Line-of-business managers
· IT managers, architects and project leaders involved in BPM efforts
· Process and Quality Subject Matter Experts
· Executive sponsors of initiatives related to BPM
We use a research methodology derived from Contextual Design. We conduct a relatively small number (20-25) of lengthy interviews (1-2 hours). Following an interview, we socialize and interpret our notes internally to derive a set of "affinities" -- individual notes, observations, and key insights. After we've completed all the interviews and interpretations, we consolidate the affinities (typically 1000+ individual notes) and look for trends and commonalities.
This effort is being coordinated by Richard Watson, Analyst within Burton Group's Application Platform Strategies service. Information obtained during the interview process will be held in confidence. Any publication or presentation arising from this field research project will not mention any participating enterprise or individual by name without the express written permission of the organization.
Those enterprises involved in the project will have the option to take part in a peer review process prior to publication of the research (e.g., provide comments and factual corrections). Participating organizations will also receive a copy of the resulting research document and have the opportunity to discuss its findings with Burton Group.
This research may challenge perceived industry messaging, but the results will provide deep qualitative information derived by evaluating experiences from multiple customers and finding common patterns.
If you have a question, need additional information, or are interesting in participating, please please leave a comment on this blog post and I will get back to you.
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