Business Process Management at Woolworths: A Case Study

Desklib offers solved assignments and past papers to help students succeed.

Business Process Management and Systems
1

Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Part A: Business Process Analytical Plan........................................................................................4
Part B: Business process improvement report...............................................................................10
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................16
References......................................................................................................................................17
2

Introduction
Business process management is a systematic approach in operation management, whereas
people use different types of methods which help to identify the model, analyze, measure,
optimize and operate the business process. In this report, it describes Woolworth’s company
business process management. It is the largest retail organization which is situated in Australia.
BPM methods and techniques help to identify the actual business performance, which is a
combination of information technology and governance methods. In BPM, there are three pillars
which support to the organization such as people, processes and technology. In the report, it
defines the analytical process plan, which includes two methods As Is and To Be process. BPM
plays a vital role in the organization. In the report, it discusses business project process, project
process mapping and its analysis. In its second task, it will discuss business process
improvement, which will explain some audit process improvement process methods.
3

Part A: Business Process Analytical Plan
Project Background: Woolworths is one of the most leading retail organization which offers
various well-known brand in the same store. The company identifies its growth and
improvement. As per the case study, Leonardo consulting became the partner of Woolworths. It
helps the organization in its design process and continues with the support. It helps to enhance
corporate performance by using a different methodology. Leonardo itself selects the vendor to
assist its journey. Woolworths took helps from Leonardo consulting in 2008 and it was the
appreciable approach used by Leonardo to deliver BPM activities. It is a private sector which
needs to establish its service in a better manner.
Business Process Management is an approach which enhances the business performance by
integrating information technology with control methodologies. The business process converts
the input into the desired output. For example, an organization uses information technology,
different activities and action. Business Process Management principle works on people,
processes and technology(om Brocke, et.al., 2014).
Goal: To maximize the performance of the staff of the respective organization by using business
process management.
Objectives
 To analyse what are the key factors which impact business performance.
 To measure the consequences of improper utilization of resource
 To expand its business in the global market
4

Business Project Management Lifecycle:
Figure 1BPM Lifecycle
Source: Author
According to the BPM lifecycle, first, it designs the idea as per the requirement and expectation.
Then it is modeling documented in the form of activity and simulated in a real experience or
event. When the project accepted by the management, it will go through to the execution phase,
where it implements on the real-world application. Then it is monitoring all the activities under
the execution. In the optimization, it implements the feedback and observes it accordingly (Too
& Weaver, 2014).
Role of Business Project Management
 To develop a new methodology this can help in improving the performance of the
business. Build new strategies which enable to perform various activities.
 Support the project and its mentor to build an effective plan. It increases the visibility of
the business project.
 Develop and deploy enterprise, and these processes enable the improvement
methodology in a better way. It manages operations and activity of the organization.
5

 It monitors all the internal and external events which help to execute the business
prominently. For BPM, companies initiate brainstorming methods to build a technique
for developing ideas. It also helps in implementing new approaches to executing such
strategies (Hermano & Martín-Cruz, 2016).
Plan for BPM
According to the case study, Leonardo consulting worked with Woolworths to establish better
business process management.
 The plan includes internal training to the employees and the project manager, how
process design team supports the material and activities.
 Governance is also part of planning to maximize accuracy and relevancy. Business
project management requires developing the process design in the organization and
implementing for better achievement.
 Communication needs to be maximized within the organization regarding action
/activities. Reuse, the most appropriate method which resolves the issue of wastage
(Xu,et.al., 2014).
AS –IS of Woolworths
AS-IS is the mapping process which evaluates the current state or status of the organization. It
maps to the existing situation of the organization. The current state of Woolworths is it acquired
continuous growth of organization, but it deals with those brands which were working with them
for a long time. Company is already listed in the stock exchange of Australia. It is the largest
private sector of Australia which provides around 19,000 employments.
To –BE of Woolworths
To-BE is also a mapping process which identifies the future state of the organization. The
organization identifies or predicts its future by analyzing its current activities and status. After
partnership Leonardo Consulting, its goal has to be extended, and their aim is that they must
increase its performance in the private sector by using process design. Leonardo consulting
supports the Woolworths in its project and deploys improvement in its respective methodologies.
6

Business Process Management approaches are focuses or create an align all the factors of the
organization according to the client need and wants. These approaches are used to make
effectiveness in business, innovation, integrate with technology and flexibility.
Iterative Approach: Business Project management approach works over the iterative procedure,
which is also well known “One and done”. It will continue after a specific interval of time.
Programs are maintained and improved by an iterative method. This approach aims to bring
more and more improvement. Due to this approach, client nad customer resolves its issues. It
helps to increases the productivity and visibility of the organization.
Improvement Process
Figure 2Improvement Process
Source: Author
The process improvement lifecycle aligns the improvement and development process of business
process management. Each aspect monitors on previously determine obstacles. Like in the base
lining, create network performance and compare with the historical record. Success factor
measures the current success factor o the BPM. It needs to be organized in proper order. It
7

should maintain its standard to achieve its desired growth. If it not an exact match with the
standard, it needs to be redesign again and if there is any redundancy or duplicate. First, it
requires eliminating. Again apply matrices and approach which drags towards the success. In the
last cross-train again, if it did not accomplish the cycle will continue.
The risk associated with Business Process Management
Financial: Woolworths have not good command on its accounting. Company affects by cash
flow, company valuation and stock price. Leonardo consulting comes together to support
Woolworths in its BPM. The company faces various kinds of financial risk and its impact on
organizational growth and profitability.
Organizational: Due to BPM, Woolworths affects its brand, its reputation and its image in
Australia. TheCompanycomes across to BPM, its impact on its activities, price tags and new
brand. Due to this customer not able to understand the strategy of the company and this impact
on lack of customer rate and its drags down the image of the company in the existing market.
Personal: BPM is not only involved organization. It also includes its employee skills, activities
and action performed by the manager and the relevant individual who engaged in BPM. If it does
not achieve success, the involved employee may lose its job, may be terminated by the respective
company, and it may lose its confidence to bring something new strategy which may help in its
professional growth (Follett,et.al., 2019).
The process mapping process, i.e. AS-IS and TO –BE. Both the mapping process is useful to
analyze its current situation and predicts its future expectation. By the help of process, mapping
organization can take its major decision for the business process management. Like in the
discussed case, process design can measure the performance of the organization in a current
situation and in the future perspective way.
The process mapping method required cost for the research, m for analysis of that performed
research. It benefits are comparatively higher than it’s vast because it measures its performance,
its growth, which will help to determine its future goals and objectives.
Advantage of BPM
8

Maximize the performance of an organization, helps in entering a new market, provide inability
to enhance its approach and strategies, analyze the requirement of client and customer. By this
advantage method, Woolworths achieved what it established its goal with the Leonardo
consulting. It deploys it’s all activities as it considers previously.
Disadvantage of BPM
It requires a large investment front e organization. Proper training methods need to be provided
by the organization to its employee's ad project team if there is any uncertainty company may be
drag down in the loss.
9

Part B: Business process improvement report
Description of audit process improvement methods
Audit process is a systematic process against the agreed and needs. It includes analysis and
verification, evaluation of operation approaches against the pre-conducted standards. Every audit
is different and follows a unique style for auditing. It includes; planning, follow up and review. It
is challenging for the audit process, which is client involvement. In simple words, verification is
an on-site process which inspects; examine the particular process, quality for assuring to the
requirements.
Their presence directly affects to the company business management because every client has
their own perceptions towards the company. There are various types of auditing methods which
are used by the auditors. This auditing is based on the audit requirements and its objectives.
Audit process improvement methods are process automation, simulation, mining and
organization management. There are three types of audits which include process audit, product
audit and system audit (Nascimento & Silveira., 2017).
These methods help to the organization to operate the current and future business operations.
Business process analysis adopts for the monitor, evaluate the process, which includes YAWL,
BPMN, and swim lanes. In the Woolworths Company, it applies the internal and external both
the audit methods. This audit method chosen by company business; its purpose is it gives the
actual scenario of the organization business conditions and situations.
In the internal method:
It functions is to monitor the nature, efficiency of Woolworth's internal control process. It
discusses the issues and resolves the problems which are arising in the internal audit. It also
supports to review the performance, make changes in the high authority of internal audit and
make suggestions to the board for improvement. It oversees and does appraisal in the quality,
purposeful inspection, which is determined by the internal audit (Saldivar, et. al., 2016).
10

In external audit:
It helps to the organization by formal reviewing of auditor’s appointment in three years. It also
reviews external auditors for scope and objections for further growth and discusses with the high
authority of the board. It helps to the organization to monitor the coordination among internal
and external audit programs. It also oversees and reviews the quality and efficiency of the audit.
It supports to sort out the problems regarding audit reports and resolve the external auditor
matters. It requires external auditors for formal written statements.
11

Suggestions and evaluate for “to be” and should be
Suggestions are:
For- to be:
 Woolworths Company needs to make business project management by the help of project
team for gaining the knowledge of project. In this situations it directly affect to the
company stakeholders which is require for company project.
 BPM software, lean process and six sigma methods are effective and beneficial for the
organizations. So it should be suggested that company should use by the Woolworths
Company.
 SAP software provides the guidance for enterprise resource planning as well as data
management programs. It support to analysis of system, applications and products
(Taghizadegan, 2013).
For “Should be”:
 It is evaluated that many companies use lean and six sigma processes. It provides many
benefits to the organizations. For Woolworths Company it is suggested that these
methods provide the directions for analysis the organizational data, statistical analysis for
calculate.
 These methods help to show the actual performance and provide directions for
improvement of company business process.
 Lean method should be applied by the company because it reduce the chances of failure
the targets.
 It helps to eliminate the wastage methods, minimizes the lengthy workload, identify the
defected areas and give directions for its improvements. So it is suggested that company
should adopt the lean process method into its business process management.
 Lean method provides benefits to the company by BPM and maintains the business
values with limited resources. It focus on evaluate the workflow for minimizes the reduce
cycle time and reduce the waste. So it is suggested to the Woolworths to use this method
into their business plan for improvement.
12