Why People, Platforms, and Process Drift Shape AB-BPM’s Future

Business Process Management (BPM) Analysis

Insights from interviews and questionnaires highlight opportunities and challenges in the BPM industry concerning the AB-BPM method. Participants, mainly software vendor employees, provided insights that reflect broader industry challenges.

The sentiment towards AB-BPM is predominantly positive. Consultants noted that some companies test new process versions against the status quo, though such tests lack structure and statistical rigor. AB testing offers a structured method for process improvement by supporting alternative version testing.

Participants were queried on the method's suitability concerning contextual factors. They provided input without predefined categories, which was later mapped to BPM contexts. Table 1 illustrates these findings, highlighting special cases where every characteristic is deemed suitable.

There is no consensus on whether AB-BPM suits radical changes. While it is primarily presented for evolutionary changes, some believe it fits both. However, most find it more apt for minor changes due to ease and rapid implementation. Larger changes may be feasible within the same system, but smaller alterations are preferred.

The AB-BPM method is particularly beneficial for core processes. It is recommended to "differentiate where you differ," focusing on core processes rather than standard ones, which aligns with common practice and academic suggestions.

Market competitiveness does not diminish the method's suitability. Participants noted that competitive markets amplify the need for faster process iterations to maintain competitiveness.

The study identified feature requirements for a tool supporting the AB-BPM method, categorized into presentation, procedure, and support. The ranking based on importance is shown in Table 2. Detailed descriptions of the top-ranked features follow.

See Potential Impact: Experts should see impact estimations to support informed decision-making. BPMN Diff Viewer: A graphical representation of diagram changes is suggested to aid understanding. Efficient Communication: Efficiently communicating process changes is crucial for teaching and employee enablement.

Addressing the core challenges is essential for advancing the AB-BPM methodology. The expert panel outlined significant risks, detailed below.

Unclear Results: High process variance may obscure intended execution. Erroneous Analysis: Blind reliance on machine-generated analysis can lead to mistakes. Cultural Change Management: Issues during roll-out highlight the need for research into human factors.

The study also explored the technical feasibility of AB-BPM without a Business Process Management System (BPMS). While technologically possible, a BPMS facilitates data collection and process deployment, though its necessity remains under discussion.

Additional Challenges: The study participants mentioned challenges such as unclear impacts of process improvements and the need for continuous data metrics for dynamic routing. An integrated process execution system is recommended.

Aaron Friedrich Kurz, Technische Universitat Berlin and SAP Signavio, Berlin, Germany Timotheus Kampik, SAP Signavio, Berlin, Germany Luise Pufahl, Technische Universitat Munchen, Munich, Germany Ingo Weber, Technische Universitat Munchen and Fraunhofer Gesellschaft, Munich, Germany

This paper is available on arXiv under the CC BY 4.0 DEED license.

Based on reporting by hackernoon.com.