May 1, 2024
Updated June 18, 2025
21 minute read
Navigating the World of Business Processes
At its core, a business process is a collection of linked tasks which find their end in the delivery of a service or product to a client. Think of it as a recipe: a set of specific steps you follow in a particular order to achieve a desired outcome, like baking a cake or processing a customer order. These processes are the fundamental building blocks of how organizations operate, whether it's a small local bakery or a large multinational corporation. They occur at all levels of an organization and dictate how work gets done, from the simplest to the most complex operations. Understanding and managing these processes effectively is crucial for any organization aiming for efficiency, quality, and customer satisfaction.
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Reading list
We've selected 29 books
that we think will supplement your
learning. Use these to
develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a
deeper understanding of the topics covered in
Business Processes.
Provides a comprehensive introduction to the field of Business Process Management (BPM), covering the entire BPM lifecycle. It is commonly used as a textbook in academic institutions and is excellent for gaining a broad understanding of the topic. The book includes exercises and solutions, making it a valuable resource for solidifying knowledge. This is an essential read for anyone new to BPM.
Provides a practical guide to business process improvement (BPI), covering the steps involved in identifying, analyzing, and improving business processes. It is written by Paul Harmon, a leading expert in BPI.
Written as a business novel, this book introduces the Theory of Constraints (TOC) and its application to improving processes and identifying bottlenecks. It's a highly engaging and accessible read that provides a fundamental understanding of system thinking and process flow. Considered a classic in operations management and highly relevant to business processes.
Offers a detailed exploration of BPM concepts, modeling languages (like BPMN), and system architectures. It's a foundational text that helps deepen understanding of the technical aspects of BPM. While it can serve as a reference, it's particularly useful for students and professionals seeking a solid theoretical background. The latest edition includes contemporary topics like process mining and RPA.
This comprehensive handbook offers a broad body of knowledge on business processes, covering modeling, methods, and frameworks. It's a useful reference for understanding the wide scope of BPM and its historical evolution. The book includes contributions from various experts, offering diverse perspectives.
This foundational book on Lean principles is highly relevant to business processes as it provides a framework for identifying and eliminating waste in any process. It introduces the concept of value streams and flow, which are critical to process improvement. A classic that provides a strong philosophical base for BPM.
Provides practical guidance for implementing BPM initiatives successfully within an organization. It bridges the gap between theory and practice, making it highly relevant for working professionals. It offers valuable insights into challenges and success factors in BPM adoption.
An updated perspective on BPM in the context of digital transformation. examines how digital technologies are reshaping business processes and the implications for BPM practices. It's a good resource for understanding the current trends and future direction of BPM.
Focuses on the value and profitability aspects of Business Process Management. It provides a business-oriented perspective on BPM, highlighting how effective process management can lead to improved business outcomes. Useful for business leaders and managers seeking to justify BPM investments.
Provides a quick reference guide to 100 tools for improving quality and speed in business processes. It is written by four leading experts in Lean Six Sigma, a popular process improvement methodology.
Provides a step-by-step guide to business process mapping, a technique for visually representing business processes. It is written by Keith Harrison, a leading expert in business process mapping.
Provides a practical guide to business process management (BPM) from the perspective of a BPM practitioner. It covers the challenges and rewards of BPM, and how to overcome the common pitfalls.
A practical guide focused on the essential skills of process mapping and improvement. is excellent for gaining hands-on knowledge in visualizing and enhancing workflows. It's a valuable resource for both students and professionals involved in process analysis and redesign efforts.
This guide provides a step-by-step approach to understanding and applying BPM within an organization. It covers governance, culture, and performance measurement, offering practical advice for implementation. Suitable for those seeking a clear and actionable overview of BPM.
Introduces the Six Sigma methodology, a data-driven approach to process improvement focused on reducing defects and variability. It provides a structured method for analyzing and improving processes, often used in conjunction with BPM. Useful for those interested in quantitative process analysis and improvement.
A detailed guide on workflow modeling techniques and their application in process improvement and system development. is valuable for those who need to understand how to model processes effectively using various tools and notations. It provides practical methods for analyzing and designing workflows.
Provides a simplified overview of business process management (BPM) for non-experts. It is written by James A. Champy and Michael Hammer, two of the pioneers of BPM.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
OpenCourser.com/topic/fja5yw/business
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