On the Role of Change in Business Process Management (BPM)

Nowadays, organizations are facing ever-changing conditions and increasing market competition. To survive, organizations must achieve the highest possible fit between them and their environment. Business process management (BPM) has become an essential management discipline dedicated to the systematic management of processes along their entire lifecycle using modern information technologies (IT). Motivated by real-world BPM initiatives, the student applies a mixed-methodology approach: In addition to systematic literature reviews, the student applies expert interviews and case studies to study phenomena and dynamics in single or multiple organizational settings. The proposed research project is conducted in the form of a cumulative dissertation with a strong orientation toward BPM in practice. This dissertation project's primary goal is to contribute to the existing body of knowledge, specifically within the BPM research community. The study involves examining how organizations integrate BPM in their organizational structure, strategy, and processes and aligning them with the six core elements of BPM (strategy, method, people, governance, culture, and information technology). In addition, the doctoral student contributes to the recently emerged research field of process science, which deals with the study of continuous change. Based on these individual studies, the doctoral researcher intends to develop guidelines which serve as a blueprint for practitioners who re-design their BPM approach in a holistic manner for delivering the company's strategy and added value for customers.