BPM Blog

Why we need processes In any organization we need processes for four main reasons: 1. Increase efficiency; 2. Control quality 3. Ensure the organization is meeting Governance or Compliance requirements 4. Help manage change In early stages of process technology and method development, each reason for using process technology was different. If you have been [...]

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Benefits of reflective listening: Lets the other reaslize he or she is heard, understood and supported and thereby helps the other stay in touch with others on the project. Gives the other feedback on what he or she said and how it came off. Lets the listener check the accuracy in hearing what the other [...]

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  Harvard Computing Group is pleased to announce the general availability of TaskMap 4.0.5, a minor update to the very successful release of TaskMap 4. We recommend that all current TaskMap 4 users update their copies of TaskMap to take advantage of this interim release. TaskMap 4.0.5 includes a number of fixes that will improve [...]

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This blog is now in video/audio format for your listening pleasure. The need to refine narrated by Michael Cunningham   Download in podcast mpg3 format The need to refine

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It’s been a while since we wrote about the issue of processes and projects. These often get muddled up, mainly because we tend to look at the disciplines as being very different. For example would a business analyst call themselves a project manager, or vice versa? The answer of course depends on the person. Vendors, [...]

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Many new customers are making extensive use of the customizing fields in TaskMap 4 Professional. In addition to creating these new fields, there are now options to set field types, lists and even create your own custom graphics to represent those fields. Typical applications include: Project management start and end times Work break down structures [...]

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Yesterday I had a long lunch with a great friend of mine from Sweden. Over the years we have set up new companies together, skied the slopes of New England, seen our families grow together. We have also been through some ups and downs, but have always stayed in touch. We have one of those [...]

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My mother used to chide me “Michael, self praise is no praise at all!”. When I congratulated myself on achieving something as a child; or if the truth be known, also as a adult. Well at the risk of invoking her comments from heaven, I will congratulate the team and myself on our first full [...]

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We have just added a great new resource to the BPM Blog, with over 250 topics and posts out there we thought it would be helpful for you to find topics of interest and not just use the search engine. Here is the link http://taskmap.com/wordpress/bpm-blog-sitemap/  The BPM Blog site Map will help you find topical [...]

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Recently I had an encounter with the word rigor and though the subject was not about processes and process improvement it seemed like a good time to revisit the use of rigor in our processes. The definition I like best for rigor is as follows: The quality of being extremely thorough, exhaustive, or accurate. We [...]

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In recent months, we have seen a dramatic increase in interest from Law firms and practitioner in the use of Process Mapping and Process Improvement tools and systems. Having spent some time talking to these firms over this period it would seem somewhat of a trend is emerging. Background Many law firms are not new [...]

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Process maps have a lifecycle of their own, but is often not recognized by those authoring, reviewing or receiving them. Here is the cycle as we see it. For each step of the Lifecycle you may want to increase or reduce to the amount of information available to the audience involved. For example: Discovery of [...]

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So you have decided to build a task library for your process and project work. Ten good reasons Let’s start with the reasons for doing this in the first place, as this may not be an insignificant endeavor, requiring a lot of thought and resources. Ten good reasons which can justify creating a task library [...]

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This weeks summary of posts for your enjoyment.   There is no smoke without fire. Is that true in Project Management? Posted in Change Management, Project Management on Apr 28th, 2011 As I write this blog entry, it’s the early hours of the morning in New England, USA. Awakened by the CO2 detector at our [...]

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BPM made simpler Licensing alternatives for TaskMap Process Mapping software Posted in Process Mapping on Apr 14th, 2011 If you are considering TaskMap for your organization for process mapping applications you will have to consider licensing options to make the most effective use of the software for your organization. There are three considerations that will [...]

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When a meeting starts up and begins to go south, project managers react in a number of ways. The negative reactions include: Chastising and demeaning participants Getting frustrated and losing your cool Blaming everyone else for your bad planning Letting the meeting run on and getting hijacked by others While experience tells us when a [...]

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Meetings sometimes take on a life of their own. Sometimes that’s a good thing. When new ideas are explored, breakthroughs occur, the status quo is challenged and new processes and products are born. However, often there are just problems keeping a meeting under control. There are two parts to this issue. Before and during the [...]

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  Staying flexible in your BPM project Posted in Change Management, Process Improvement, Project Management on Apr 7th, 2011 It’s important to keep a flexible position when managing any project, but particularly a BPM one. Why, because things change. Just when you thought everything was going perfectly your project sponsor has left the company for [...]

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It’s important to keep a flexible position when managing any project, but particularly a BPM one. Why, because things change. Just when you thought everything was going perfectly your project sponsor has left the company for another opportunity; the budget has been cut; a new division has been acquired or formed; you get the idea. [...]

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Many BPM projects are international in nature. Working overseas as a part of an international team can be one of the most enjoyable, yet challenging environments. Over the past 12 years, much of my travel has taken me to the Middle East, an area with much change going on right now. Projects in Jordan, Egypt, [...]

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