Business Process Management
Business Process Management (BPM) is a key competency required to enhance strategic and systematic thinking that creates a continuous improvement environment. With an increasing workload demand and the Department's limited resources, our business processes need to be as simple and efficient as possible. Maximizing performance with available resources is not only a smart business practice, but is necessary by default.
How does it fit in?
BMP fits under the transferable skills stream of “Business Acumen” as defined by the Canada School of Public Service (CSPS). This stream ensures employees have dynamic business administration skills to help them develop and deliver projects or initiatives inside or outside government.
Want to learn more about transferrable skills? Visit the CSPS information page.
A professional discipline
BPM is a professional discipline with a variety of methods that can be used to analyze and improve business processes, to enhance business performance outcomes and operational agility. Processes span organizational boundaries, linking together people, information flows, systems and other assets to create and deliver value to clients and citizens. It includes:
- Business Process Improvement (BPI), or the study of existing processes and finding ways to improve their efficiencies while preserving their essence. With BPI, different elements of the workflow are reviewed and unnecessary ones are eliminated. BPI does not usually affect company culture, nor does it create drastic changes.
- Business Process Engineering (BPE), or the creation of a new business process. BPE is often used in new businesses or businesses experiencing rapid growth or changes.
- Business Process Re-engineering and Redesign (BPR), or the transformation of an existing complex and inefficient process into a simplified and stable new workflow. BPR requires significant time and intervention, and expected changes can be radical. BPR can have an impact on a company’s culture and climate and influence workforce decisions.
Many of the learning activities listed below are informal, so don’t forget to take credit for your learning by manually adding your completed learning in Saba.
Developing an Awareness
Operational Efficiency
This online toolbox will contains articles and videos on Business Process Improvement. While some of the presented tools are more applicable to the private sector, the knowledge is transferrable to the Government of Canada context.
- Duration:
- Variable
- Methodology:
- Reading
- Course ID:
- n/a
Gearing Up for Growth: 5 Simple Steps to Set Up Your Business Processes
Follow these steps to make sure your business process has set your organization up for success.
- Duration:
- Variable
- Methodology:
- Reading
- Course ID:
- n/a
Got a wicked problem? First, tell me how you make toast. A TED Talk by Tom Wujec (English-only, caption and transcript available in English and French)
This video will show you how to start a design process by demonstrating how groups can use process mapping to solve complex problems together.
- Duration:
- 15 minutes
- Methodology:
- Video
- Course ID:
- n/a
L’approche processus (French-only) (The Process Approach)
This video defines the process approach and how to implement it.
- Duration:
- 35 minutes
- Methodology:
- Video
- Course ID:
- n/a
Fundamentals of Process Management
Every employee can benefit from a basic understanding of business process management. This online self-paced course features a series of short videos illustrating aspects of business process management. A number of accompanying exercises, questions for reflection and job aids will further develop basic knowledge and skills in this critical aspect of government functioning.
- Duration:
- 3 hours
- Methodology:
- Web-based
- Course ID:
- T400
Introduction to Six Sigma
There has been an increased interest in Six Sigma in recent years. But what is Six Sigma? This online course will introduce you to the foundational concepts of the Six Sigma philosophy and process. You will gain an understanding of the new roles that some employees will fill. This course will introduce you to a straightforward framework for satisfying your customers, reducing waste, and increasing efficiency and quality in your organization.
- Duration:
- 2 hours
- Methodology:
- Web-based
- Course ID:
- X010
Tools and Self-Help
Glossary and Translation of Business Process Engineering Terminology
This is a translation tool. In this document, you will find a list of Business Process Engineering terms in English and their French equivalents.
- Duration:
- Variable
- Methodology:
- Reading
- Course ID:
- n/a
Creating a Flowchart – Instructions with Video (Video is English-only)
Create a flow chart in PowerPoint 2013 to map out processes, choosing from a variety of layouts and options.
Instructions and transcript of video available in English and French. Video in English only.
- Duration:
- Variable
- Methodology:
- Reading and video
- Course ID:
- n/a
Visio – Instructions Toolkit
Learn to create flowcharts, networks and diagrams using Microsoft Visio.
- Duration:
- Variable
- Methodology:
- Reading and videos
- Course ID:
- n/a
Gartner (CEB) Subscription Service (primarily English-only)
Did you know that you can further your understanding of business process management through the Gartner (CEB) subscription service? To access a host articles, discussions and events, all you need to do is:
- Create an account (DOC, 30.3 KB)
- Search their catalogue with the keywords “process mapping” and “lean”
Mouvement québécois de la qualité (French only)
Did you know that you have access to the Mouvement québécois de la qualité’s resources? To access a host articles, job-aids and trainings, all you need to do is :
- Create an account (DOC, 30.3 KB)
- Search their catalogue with the keywords “processus d’affaires”, “processus” and “cartographie”
Recommended Books
What Is BPM? – Marvin Wurtzel (English-only)
In this book by Marvin Wurtzel, learn about the benefits of Business Process Management (BPM) and the tools and techniques to implement it.
Find out how to:
- Identify value chain processes within your organization;
- Understand, assess, improve, and manage phases of BPM;
- Select process improvement tools;
- Transform to a process-managed enterprise; and
- Evaluate BPM software and platforms.
Find this book at your local library or purchase it from a book retailer ($5 to $15, depending on format).
- Duration:
- Variable – 100 pages
- Methodology:
- Reading
- Course ID:
- n/a
- eBook available:
- Yes
Streamlined Process Improvement – H. James Harrington (English-only)
In this book by H. James Harrington, a leader in the field of Process Improvement, you will learn about tools and methodologies to create more efficient and effective processes by implementing his simple PASIC approach: Plan, Analyze, Streamline, Implement, and Continuous Improvement.
Find this book at your local library or purchase it from a book retailer ($25 to $50, depending on format).
- Duration:
- Variable – 430 pages
- Methodology:
- Reading
- Course ID:
- n/a
- eBook available:
- Yes
Transformer par les processus: Le pilotage du changement étape par étape (French-only) (Transformation with Processes : Piloting change day-by-day)
Michel Raquin and Clément Artiguebieille take you step-by-step through the key role processes play in the evolution of an organization, with the “13 fields method” and through case studies and other examples. Managing change and organizational politics are also covered.
Find this book at your local library or purchase it from a book retailer ($30 to $45, depending on format).
- Duration:
- Variable – 375 pages
- Methodology:
- Reading
- Course ID:
- n/a
- eBook available:
- No
Business Process Improvement Toolbox – Bjørn Andersen (English-only)
Learn how to implement continuous business process improvement to create a more efficient, effective organization. A toolbox including templates and examples for each project phase is included.
Find this book at your local library or purchase it from a book retailer ($25 to $55, depending on format).
- Duration:
- Variable – 300 pages
- Methodology:
- Reading
- Course ID:
- n/a
- eBook available:
- Yes
- Equivalent:
- "Améliorer ses processus: la méthode ESP pour augmenter la capacité et la maîtrise de vos processus" by Christian Maréchal and Franck Seignard.
Améliorer ses processus: la méthode ESP pour augmenter la capacité et la maîtrise de vos processus – Christian Maréchal and Franck Seignard (French-only) (Improving Processes : the ESP Method to Increase Capacity and Control over your Processes)
Learn to boost your performance even further by improving your processes! This book is geared towards two types of people: those who design the method and those in charge of deploying it. The book will help you understand process-based management, discover new perspectives, build a process evaluation model, analyze processes and increase their potential.
Find this book at your local library or purchase it from a book retailer ($25 to $35, depending on format).
- Duration:
- Variable – 200 pages
- Methodology:
- Reading
- Course ID:
- n/a
- eBook available:
- No
- Equivalent:
- “Business Process Improvement Toolbox” by Bjørn Andersen.
Be sure to browse the College@ESDC’s complete offering on competencies that support Transformational Learning such as strategic thinking, change management, project management, and risk management.
If you have questions about these offerings, contact your Learning Coordinator (NCR) or your Learning Centre (regions).