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Meridith Levinson's Whose Is Process Improvement Anyway?

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Introduction The role of information technology (IT) in the world of business process improvement can take many forms. From an automation standpoint, no one knows more about the subject than the IT professionals within an organization. From the business unit perspective, no one knows more than the department professionals. The article selected for this analysis is titled "Whose is Process Improvement Anyway?" by Meridith Levinson. It describes two separate organizations that utilize IT in their business process improvement strategies. It further describes the hurdles that must be overcome to make IT a leader in business process improvement initiatives. As technology improves and newer business process improvement software is developed, …show more content…

First Horizon National The second scenario involves First Horizon National, of Memphis. This particular company utilizes a project manager of sorts that acts as a liaison in business process improvement initiatives. IT plays a role, but it is more of a partnership one where they act as a technical advisor in issues related to automation. This particular implementation is actually more pleasing to the business unit, as IT is a partner that is brought into the process rather than initiating it. In this article, the author does not offer an opinion regarding the proper role that IT should play in business process improvement projects. Given the source, CIO Magazine, it can be assumed that the author feels that IT should have some sort of leading role in the process. Personally, I do not feel that IT should lead any business process improvement projects that are not IT specific. I believe that IT is an important cog in the machine, but their involvement should be limited to that of an advisor for issues involving automation. IT should know automation, but they do not know the job of public works, for example. In my particular workplace, the role of IT in business process improvement should be limited. The bulk of our operations workforce is actually IT professionals. Our business is related to IT quite heavily. At the present time, I am working on a customer engagement methodology. It will actually be a ‘toolbox' of sorts that all

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