Business Process Improvement - Implementation and the Impact Analysis

During the implementation phase of a BPI project, youyou will include changes that only affect external
have to think about the changes that need to occur ingroups (outside the sponsor's span of control) or all
order for the new improved process to work asgroups.
designed. Will the finance department have an- Rationale: State why the change is important to the
objection to a particular change for some reason? Willbusiness. For example, reduces cycle time by speeding
another department affected by a handoff have aup the approval process.
concern? Will a stakeholder disagree with a proposed- Area impacted: List the departments or business
change? Business process improvement does causeareas impacted by the change. For example,
changes to occur in any organization and notpurchasing, legal, or entire company.
everyone likes change.- Population/group impacted: List the population or
The impact analysis, a key component of thegroups impacted by the change. For example,
implementation phase in any BPI project, provides youpurchasing manager, vendors, or clients.
with a tool to use in identifying all the issues that can- Change management: This is an explanation of the
surface that could create roadblocks to youranticipated push back you expect with the proposed
implementation. Develop the impact analysis by walkingchange. For example: Purchasing may not feel
through the newly improved process map andcomfortable with a reduced number of approvals and
identifying any activity that requires a change in themay want to set a dollar limit for purchasing approvals,
organization. Create a table in Microsoft Word oror Clients are not accustomed to being told "no" even
Excel that includes the following information for anythough their request falls outside the department's
potential problem area you identify:guidelines.
You can do this step at the end of your work or while
1. Reference numberyou are building the new process map, but I like to jot
2. Process changedown notes while building the new map because you
3. Rationalehear the project team's discussion about potential
4. Area impactedproblems and this helps you to remember everything.
5. Population/group impactedSponsors appreciate the impact analysis because they
6. Change managementoften own most of the responsibility for gaining
- Process change: This is where you describe theagreement on the required changes and this summary
change that has to occur. For example, eliminate threegives them the information they need to do their job.
of the current approval levels. You have to decide if