Business Processes

Question 1

What is a business process?

Answer 1

The combination of inputs and resources processed to produce outputs

OR

A series of interlocking activities that work together across the organisation to achieve some predetermined organisational goal.

Question 2

What are the 6 measures of competitive performance?

Answer 2

1. Customer satisfaction
2. Productivity
3. Differentiation
4. Cost Reduction
5. Quality
6. Cycle and fulfilment time reduction

Question 3

How do information systems assist business processes?

Question 4

What are cross-functional business processes?

Question 5

What is the difference between BPI and BPR?

Question 6

What are the five stages of BPI?

Answer 6

1. Define - identify the process and its key components (eg inputs and outputs, resources) in a map, graph, or diagram
2. Measure - identify the key metrics to measure the process and its change over time
3. Analyse - identify the key issues and their root causes + benchmark the performance of the process against competitors
4. Improve - select a solution and implement it
5. Control - establish metrics to monitor the process

Question 7

How is BPI managed?

Answer 7

Using Business Process Management

Question 8

Business processes can provide an organisation with a competitive advantage. This competitive advantage is more likely to come from:

a.
the design of business processes that are unique or offer something different.

b.
the design of business processes that are more efficient and effective.

c.
the design of business processes that have lower costs of execution.

d.
the design of business processes that are more competitive and flexible.

Answer 8

a.
the design of business processes that are unique or offer something different.

Not b. because companies that rely upon being ahead of the curve in terms of technological advancement will not be able to sustain it and there is a greater risk of failing

Question 9

Michael Porter sees a business as having two options when deciding on a strategy. These two options are:

Answer 9

Differentiation and cost leadership