A Practical Guide to Information Systems Process Improvement
Features
Summary
When you invest in expensive technology and systems, you want to get the most out of them. Process improvement has been used for years as an effective strategy to reduce costs, shorten cycle times, improve quality, and increase user satisfaction in other areas of business such as Quality, Manufacturing, and Engineering. While there are many books available on process improvement and process re-engineering, few of them address the unique processes within information systems as clearly and succinctly as A Practical Guide to Information Systems Improvement.
Process Improvement for IS
Tailored specifically for IS processes, A Practical Guide to Information Systems Process Improvement provides a step-by-step method for creating a world class Information System organization. The authors introduce process management and highlight its application to information systems. The book outlines a practical, complete, and easy-to-understand method for improving or re-engineering the processes within the Information Systems organization — simplifying process improvement so that you can begin to use it immediately.
Avoid common pitfalls and mistakes
The evolving business environment puts new demands on your Information Systems. E-commerce, changing technology, ERP, and globalization are just a few of the areas that will benefit from process improvement. This easy-to-follow guide includes a corresponding process model for each step that serves as a starting point for process improvement effort. It provides a checklist to ensure your new process meets all the requirements for its particular purpose and identifies pitfalls and mistakes to avoid.
Table of Contents
Contents
INTRODUCTION TO IS PROCESS MANAGEMENT
Process Management
Benefits of Process Improvement
Market Drivers
Process Evolution
Barriers to Change
Process Improvement Tools and Methodologies
Key Points to Remember
PROCESS FUNDAMENTALS OVERVIEW
Process Definition
Process Stakeholders
Process Characteristics
Process Improvement Methodology Overview
Key Points to Remember
GETTING STARTED
Planning
Information Systems Strategic Plan
Project Goals
Understanding the IS Environment
Establish the Steering Team
Develop the Project Plan
Process Training
Pitfalls to Avoid
Key Points to Remember
PROCESS IDENTIFICATION
Understand Information Systems Area
Identify Information Systems Processes
Document Description
Identify Benefits
Identify Issues
Pitfalls to Avoid
Key Points to Remember
PROCESS SELECTION
Analyze Value
Prioritize Processes
Select Processes
Pitfalls to Avoid
Key Points to Remember
CURRENT STATE PROCESS ASSESSMENT
Gather Information
Flowchart the Process
Analyze the Flowchart
Pitfalls to Avoid
Key Points to Remember
PROCESS PLAN
Determine Process Objectives
Determine Process Metrics
Obtain Baseline Data
Benchmark the Process
Develop Process Plan
Pitfalls to Avoid
Key Points to Remember
FUTURE STATE PROCESS MAPPING
Identify Process Owner
Organize Redesign Sessions
Develop New Process
Validate New Process
Develop Process Documentation
Pitfalls to Avoid
Key Points to Remember
IMPLEMENTING PROCESS CHANGES
Determine Impact of Technology
Determine Impact on People
Plan the Implementation
Risk Management
Implement the New Process
Monitor the Process
Improve the Process
Pitfalls to Avoid
Key Points to Remember
SUMMARY
Methodology Overview
Success Criteria
Benefits of Process Improvement
Key Points to Remember
APPENDICES
Process Characteristics Checklist
Customer Survey
Process Evolution Readiness Assessment
Project Success Assessment
Process Descriptions
Process Benefits
Possible Process Issues
Process Design Components
Process Implementation Readiness Assessment
Information Systems Environment Checklist
INDEX
Editorial Reviews
"Cassidy and Guggenberger have done an excellent job of combining process improvement and quality improvement into a straightforward practical guide for information systems professionals to apply to improving the information systems development within an organization. The writing is straightforward and very accessible. This book enables organizations to improve both the quality and performance of information systems."—Dr. James C. Wetherbe, FedEx Professor of Excellence and Director of the Center for Cycle Time Research
“I was immediately hooked to this book and could not stop reading. I want to make this into my organizations core belief. I want to learn it and teach it, not just to IT, but for other departments as well. I plan to introduce this to the executive team of my corporation as a way to work through issues together. This book, if correctly applied, will allow us to have the time to do the important things, not just the urgent ones. This is a very comprehensive, practical, methodology that all IT organizations need.”—Adrienne Bodor, CIO, Eaton Corporation
“This is an outstanding book for real practioners of Information Technology. Many in the industry have given lip service to being process oriented, but few actually effectively implement processes. This well written book is an excellent guide — using real life examples — on how to move from being a skills based organization to being process based.”—Cheryl Stepney, Director, Microsoft
"Anita’s second book is as good as her first. It’s a clear, concise, easy-to-read guide for process improvement for any IS department. But don’t stop there, you can apply these same techniques to any process. Read it through, then keep the book handy as you’ll be referencing it frequently throughout your process improvement projects."—Mary Rolf, Executive VP, Rosemount Office Systems, Inc.
"I liked the presentation of the material. Coming from the process world, I agreed with many of your viewpoints. I found the book to be interesting and very good."—Mark Brewer, Director of Information Services, Donaldson Company, Inc.
"I thought it a very useful reference book for experienced people facing many of the issues in this and other organizations. I think that it would also be a useful book for someone who is new to the concept of process reengineering as well. I especially like the checklists at the end."—Cliff Tamplin, Managing Director, IS, Northwest Airlines, Inc.
“This is an outstanding book for real practitioners of Information Technology. Many in the industry have given lip service to being process oriented, but few actually effectively implement processes. This well written book is an excellent guide — using real life examples - on how to move from being a skills based organization to being process based.”—Dan A. Christian, Vice President / CIO, Graco Inc.
"IT departments are last to re-invent themselves — this book helps you change this paradigm! To help lead technology change, IT departments must change, and this book shows you the steps to cause change. This book explains how to ensure that people, technology and processes are aligned, which is the true key to success in business today.”—Cliff Tamplin, Managing Director, IS, Northwest Airlines, Inc.
