SIG’s Business Process Analysis (BPA) is a systematic methodology for improving a variety of operations within a college or university. The goal is to optimize work routines, enhance productivity, simplify processes, minimize costs, and improve services for students, faculty, and staff.
BPA is frequently performed in conjunction with the implementation of new enterprise information technology. Such an approach enables an institution to address underlying processes as well as supportive electronic systems.
SIG has helped numerous clients achieve profound improvements in many areas, including the following:
- Matriculation (e.g., recruiting, admissions, advising, registration)
- Financial aid analysis, awarding, and disbursement
- Fee assessment and bill payment
- Student progress and degree audit
- Transfer articulation
- College catalog and class schedule development
- Budget development
- Purchasing
- Hiring
What sorts of results are associated with SIG’s BPA? Specifically, what do most institutions want to achieve? Below, is a list of common outcomes:
- Simplicity instead of complexity
- Streamlined operations and fewer “moving parts”
- Significant opportunities for improvement rather than marginal advancements
- Elimination of redundant “shadow” systems
- Removal of process bottlenecks
- Automation of labor-intensive operations
- Elimination of disparate organizational silos
- Predictable results and reduced “firefighting”
- Enhanced confidence and understanding of business process; reduced error and waste
- Improved collaboration among workgroups
- Better access to critical services
Many clients use SIG’s BPA solution as part of an effort to reconsider business processes that have been in place for many years.
SIG’s BPA workshops include graphical mapping exercises. First, a facilitator helps the client create a diagram of existing processes and work routines. Such a diagram enables everyone to visualize the opportunities for improvement. Strengths, weaknesses, bottlenecks, and redundancies become readily apparent. Then, participants are able to prioritize opportunities for improvement and articulate action plans. Finally, the facilitator helps the workshop participants create a diagram that depicts an ideal business process. Below is a conceptual model of an SIG business process map.
Please let us know how SIG can help you with your business processes. We are pleased to offer assistance.
