Explore key insights on establishing effective process hierarchies in business management, as shared by an industry expert through recent client discussions. Discover the balance between functional and end-to-end structures.
A new blog post of Caspar Jans was published on Feb 28, 2025 with the original title:
Process Hierarchy and Politics
Overview:
This post discusses the importance of establishing two interconnected hierarchies for effective business process management: a functional hierarchy and an end-to-end hierarchy. The author emphasizes the political challenges in assigning ownership of these processes and the nuances that arise in diverse organizational contexts.
Core content:
- The process hierarchy is crucial for effective governance, management, and design of business processes.
- Organizations should maintain both a functionally decomposed hierarchy and an end-to-end hierarchy for clarity and efficiency.
- Assigning ownership in end-to-end processes can be politically challenging, requiring careful consideration of impactful processes.
- Customizations may be necessary for processes that differ across regions or product lines, leading to varied conclusions even on similar topics.
Learnings:
- Understanding the dual hierarchy approach enhances the management of business processes and ownership clarity.
- Effective governance relies on recognizing that end-to-end processes cross functional borders and require careful alignment.
- Coping with variations in process execution across different contexts is essential for tailored process management.
- The insights imply that while there are established methodologies, successful implementation often depends on organizational dynamics.
The original content was published in English.
