Application of Business Process Reengineering in Higher Institutions

Application of Business Process Reengineering in Higher Institutions.

ABSTRACT  

Of the major advancements in the Information Technology industry, the 90s saw the development of Business Process re-engineering (BPR) systems. Despite the heavy cost and efforts required to implement such systems, the benefits to organizations, having achieved more efficient operations and improved competitive stance have been dwindling.

The failure rate of BPR system implementations encouraged academicians and practitioners alike to utilize critical success factors to study project success (Soh et al, 2000, Willis and Willis Brown, 2002). This thesis aims to investigate the critical success factors that lead to the successful implementation of BPR projects in institutions of higher learning. From the literature review, a BPRM framework was developed using critical success factors.

The key factors were identified and their applicability and impact in successful implementation were explored. The qualitative research approach was used in the registrar’s office at the American University of Nigeria. A set of 6 semi-structured interviews were conducted and the results were analyzed. The result of the study indicates that all the factors of the BPRM framework exhibited for implementation success of this case have high levels of criticality. 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY……………………………………………………………………………………………..1
1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM/DISCUSSION……………………………………………………………………………….1
1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY…………………………………………………………………………………………………….3
1.4 AIM OF THE STUDY ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..3
1.5 RESEARCH QUESTIONS…………………………………………………………………………………………………………3
I.5 GLOSSARY……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………4
1.6 STRUCTURE OF THE THESIS…………………………………………………………………………………………………..4

CHAPTER TWO-LITERATURE REVIEW………………………………………………………………………………………………5
2.1 HISTORY OF BUSINESS PROCESS REENGINEERING …………………………………………………………………..5
2.2 SUCCESS FACTORS IN IMPLEMENTING BUSINESS PROCESS REENGINEERING ……………………………10
2.2.1 Change Management…………………………………………………………………………………………………..11
2.2.2 Quality Culture (Empowerment)……………………………………………………………………………………12
2.2.3 Management Competence …………………………………………………………………………………………..13
2.2.4 Organizational Structure/Teamwork ……………………………………………………………………………..14
2.2.5 Project Management …………………………………………………………………………………………………..15
2.2.6 IT Infrastructure ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….16
2.3 Failure Factors In Business Process Reengineering (BPR)………………………………………………………..19
2.4 Framework of Study…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..20
2.5 BPR Techniques…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………23
2.5.1 Network Models …………………………………………………………………………………………………………24

CHAPTER THREE-RESEARCH METHODOLOGY…………………………………………………………………………………25
3.1.1 Philosophical Assumptions …………………………………………………………………………………………..25
3.1.2 Qualitative Research Methods………………………………………………………………………………………26
3.1.3 Data Collection……………………………………………………………………………………………………………27
3.2 QUALITATIVE RESEARCH IN THE STUDY………………………………………………………………………………..28
3.2.1 Philosophical Assumption in the Study…………………………………………………………………………..28
3.2.2 Data Collection Method in the Study……………………………………………………………………………..28
3.2.3 As Is and To-Be……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….36

CHAPTER FOUR-RESULTS …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….38
INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………38
4.0 PROCESS RE-ENGINEERING FRAMEWORK…………………………………………………………………………….38
4.0.1 Process Re-engineering Framework Application ……………………………………………………………..38
4.1 Description of Activities…………………………………………………………………………………………………………39
4.1.1. Add & Drop …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..39
4.1.2 Certificate Issuance…………………………………………………………………………………………………………40
4.1.3 Class Validation………………………………………………………………………………………………………………40
4.1.4 Tra
nscript Issuance …………………………………………………………………………………………………………41
4.1.5 Degree Audit………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….41
4.1.6 Credit Transfer……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….42
4.2 Interview Findings & Analysis…………………………………………………………………………………………………43
4.2.2 Re-engineering……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….45
4.3 Interpretation of Findings………………………………………………………………………………………………………54
4.3.1 Transcript Issuance …………………………………………………………………………………………………………54
4.3.2 Class Validation………………………………………………………………………………………………………………54
4.3.3 Credit Transfer……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….54
Table 2: Tabular Representation of CFSs……………………………………………………………………………………….55
Critical Success Factors from Case Study……………………………………………………………………………………….56

CHAPTER SIX-CONCLUSION………………………………………………………………………………………………………….58
REFERENCES………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………62
APPENDIX………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….69

 

INTRODUCTION  

This thesis investigates the critical success factors in the business processes of the registrar’s office at the American University of Nigeria. Business process reengineering (BPR) is a management tool used to assist an organization in ensuring effective, efficient and economic growth through the restructuring and dramatic redesigning of business processes.

Thus, BPR studies are of great benefit to academicians as well as professionals in the business world (Champy & Davenport 2003). The objective of this chapter is to provide some background information on the topic. The next section will focus on the problem statement. The objective of the study will be discussed in section three, and section four will focus on the research questions of the study. Finally, the last section will outline the structure of the thesis. 

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY  

BPR plays an important role in running organizations, irrespective of the size. It helps create a channel through which information can reach all the functional units which in turn, can lead to benefits such as effective work performance, efficiency, and accurate scheduling. 

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