After many years of doing SAP projects, thinking in processes has become a second nature.
It still happens though that I come in companies where this process mindset is far from natural. These companies may be having another ERP system, but it is also possible that these companies are using SAP as their ERP system. It is very well possible, as I found out recently, that the companies who have already been using SAP for many years still do not have a process organization!
Mind blowing but true. Business processes and everything connected to the ERP system are still seen as something of the IT department. As for me, in my perspective each business process, whether it is automated or not, is completely in the realm of the business. That’s why it is called a “business” process after all.
If business processes are seen as IT stuff, this results in the assumption that IT is responsible for the process, the data and the system. Of course, this gives IT superpowers, but also a huge, unbearable responsibility.
This responsibility is impossible, because IT needs the rest of the business to tell them what to do. Because IT is a supporting department, service or whatever you want to call it. The business however does not feel any ownership. And when something goes wrong, they blame IT.
An illogical, irrational catch 22. But that is not new, “we are not noble in reason, not infinite in faculty, and rather weak in apprehension”. The fear for what we do not understand drives us in this direction. And if this happens in an organization where mistakes are not encouraged or even judged. Then this behavior is strengthened and hard to change.
To choose for a business process mindset takes courage. You must dare to show vulnerability and you must dare to take a stand. This new way of thinking may even be that you will have to let go of the perception of control. That you have to take risks.
It is, I can tell you, a calculated risk. If you've taken the risk and look back, you will see that is wat not a risk at all. I would have been a risk to stay in the old mindset. Because then you will understand that it has been worth it. I know it. It is worth it to think in terms of improvement, doing better. Everything thought, every feeling, every action in order to become the best is worthwhile.
