Abstract: As more business processes exist in an electronic universe, the need to manage the IT services that enable these processes increases. Business service management does this and achieves the IT alignment with the business necessary to ensure service improvement activities are prioritized with business objectives. Business service management applies the adage that if you improve IT, you improve the business. This paper presents an overview of business service management concepts and describes how Proxima Centauri provides a solution for this. It also describes how Six Sigma can be used as an underlying quality improvement process to eliminate the associated costs of poor quality.

Abstract: In the current economic climate, business process management (BPM) projects need to return to basics to meet the needs of today’s dynamic enterprise. They need to quickly deliver the benefits that organizations need or require, without the barriers of cost, time, complexity, and staffing that have built up around BPM over the years. Learn how applying nimble BPM strategies can help you drive business change.

Abstract: When it comes to business process management (BPM), it makes sense to “look before you leap.” Organizations considering using BPM to automate or streamline business processes should step back and understand what is at the core of each process. Is it a well-defined workflow? Does it have a set of related tasks or steps? Find out how answering these questions can help you define the right BPM solution for your organization.

Abstract: To many managers, the words “business process management” (BPM) conjure up images of complexity—months of planning, meetings, and more meetings. While BPM can be complex, it needn’t be. You can move quickly to implement process automation for your company. Learn what to consider and act on as you contemplate how to automate your business processes and increase competitive advantage and customer loyalty.

Abstract: Enterprises of all sizes today face common problems dealing with handling increasing business complexity while reducing costs. The solution continues to be the automation of business processes. SAP is an established leader in addressing the needs of large enterprises. Building on that performance and identified best practices, SAP built and launched SAP Business One. SAP Business One was designed to offer small and medium businesses the same business streamlining and efficiencies at a scale and scope appropriate to their needs. IDC recently interviewed a number of companies that have successfully deployed SAP Business One. The purpose of our interviews was to determine what impact the software had on their productivity and cost reduction.

Abstract: Aspen Technology recently announced its e-commerce initiative, Aspen e-Business, which is the first in a planned series of business-to-business e-commerce applications. As part of the initiative, AspenTech will partner with business-to-business application vendor Extricity Software, Inc. to deliver e-commerce solutions. Though Aspen lags behind other enterprise application software vendors in e-commerce offerings, recent business restructuring efforts and its hold on the process manufacturing segment may lead to success.

Abstract: In the present context of business, it is becoming essential for the business world to provide electronic commerce in addition to their good old business model. An electronic commerce application adds lot of value to business models and helps overall growth in the different areas of business, business management, tracking, and customer support. Customers find it’s much easier to access the products and services of a corporation through an e-commerce application and corporations find it easier to reach their customers.

Abstract: Brazilian health care cooperative Assefaz wanted to change its health care plan administration system, as it didn’t offer enough options to create business rules and specific procedures. The new system it chose offers new modules, including Medical Audits. Find out how the co-op divided up the implementation, and how the new solution has streamlined numerous processes related to its administrative health care services.

Abstract: Formerly just a soccer team but now a large company, Brazil-based Cruzeiro Esporte Clube needed effective administrative management. Cruziero had to choose a new system that would be able to integrate with its legacy systems. The results of the successful integration include business intelligence capabilities that allow a flow of information between the team and the board of director—and a reduction of costs. Learn more.

Abstract: For the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) to fulfill its vital health mission, it must expedite and streamline its workflow processes—and the forms, approvals, and documents associated with those processes. As NIMH grew, tracking and managing forms was just one challenge that needed to be addressed. Learn about the Web-based workflow software that provides users with automated business process management.

Abstract: Written for the IT outsourcing community, this document describes an approach for measuring the business value of IT in order to focus service provision activities on areas that are of priority to the client. It introduces a quality improvement process that can decrease the cost of service provisioning without impairing service quality. The intended audience includes those responsible for designing a solution, managers of an existing service, and people bidding for new business looking to differentiate their services. By measuring and reporting on the business value of an IT service, outsourcers' clients see the contribution being made to the success of their clients' business ventures. As a result, the outsourcers' relationships will transition from supplier to partner, they become better placed to exploit new business opportunities, and save money by focusing efforts on areas that are important to their clients.

Abstract: Collaboration and interoperability are critical where multiple business units reside under one larger corporation, or where there is a requirement to integrate the system into a disparate system when a business-to-business or business-to-consumer extension is part of the business model.

Abstract: IT departments rarely know as much about a business as the business people themselves. But business users still depend on IT to deliver answers related to the information that they receive. Learn how business intelligence (BI) 2.0—also known as collaborative BI—is helping business users create and modify their own reports, share and enrich information, and provide feedback to each other and to information producers.

Abstract: Executives and management consultants agree that effective business process management involves placing the day-to-day decisions into the hands of business operations managers. By applying operational business intelligence (BI)—which assembles data from the business as it happens, reports on it, and analyzes it—companies gain the necessary information and tools needed to make decisions and improve business performance.

Abstract: Midsize companies may move so fast that they jeopardize the creation of reliable business performance metrics. Without a trusted set of business information and sound analytic processes, a midsize company cannot make informed business decisions, or take the actions required for successful business outcomes. Learn how your midsize company can overcome the four inhibitors to reliable business intelligence (BI).

Abstract: Unimed Porto Alegre, with 41 percent of the health care market share in Sao Paolo (Brazil) managed to make significant improvements to its operations by implementing a new solution to deal with hundreds of thousands of monthly online transactions. For one thing, the payment process has been reduced from 3 days to 10 hours or less. Learn about the other benefits this online customer service solution provides.

Abstract: As a Lean Six Sigma service company, third-party logistics (3PL) provider Transplace emphasizes eliminating waste, simplifying processes, and demonstrating continuous improvement. Those values were on display when the company replaced a host of manual document management processes with a modern workflow solution. Learn how that new solution helped Transplace streamline operations and better serve customers.

Abstract: Oilfield production chemicals company Multi-Chem needed a new workflow solution to help manage key documents and processes. The solution needed to reflect the processes employees were currently using, control the workflow of those processes, and pinpoint the location and status of documents. Find out how the company implemented a solution that helped it move away from hard copy forms and inefficient processes.