Business Reengineering: The Survival Guide

There is no alternative. For organizations that want to survive the overwhelming challenges they face now and in the future, they must change. Business reengineering has emerged as a comprehensive process for reshaping the landscape of business as we know it today. When managed properly, it can sweep away the vestiges of the past, resulting in leaner, stronger operations. Business Reengineering: The Survival Guide is for those who want to become street smart business reengineers. It is the first step-by-step, practical guide for managing the chaos and creativity that are the hallmarks of a business undergoing reengineering. Business reengineering is a journey through the wilderness of fundamental change and only those who are properly equipped and trained will survive. This book contains all the essentials required for this journey. Not only does it cover the technical aspects of reengineering, it provides readers with practical tools for managing the political and organizational issues that can quickly derail the best of efforts. Written to appeal to executives, managers, and technical specialists alike, this book succinctly explains how to manage difficult issues related to project funding, scarce resources, and executive commitment; successfully lead cross functional teams to achieve consensus and alignment within rigid political environments; implement radical change in change-resistant organizations; and rebuild all aspects of the organization, from the values that define it to the processes that make it operate effectively.

Exceptionally practical in approach, this volume provides a "street smarts" survival guide for business professionals, information systems experts, managers, and executives who have been charged with making radical changes -- i.e., business reengineering -- in their organizations. It outlines a tried-and-tested systematic and interdisciplinary approach that addresses all facets of organization change--in business policies and control, systems and technology, organizational relationships and business practices, and reward programs. Reviews the basic principles for quality business reengineering; shows how to create a new type of team structure that will involve the right people throughout the life of the project; outlines an 8-step life-cycle methodology for getting the reengineering project done as effectively and efficiently as possible; describes obstacles and problems that may be encountered and how to overcome them; and tells how to transition a continuous process improvement mode so reengineering will never have to be done again. For systems designers, analysts, administrators, software managers, maintenance managers.