Exploring Business Analyst Career Paths: Business Process Manager

One of the most popular questions practising Business Analysts tend to have is along the lines of, “What next now?”. After spending a good number of years on the job, the need to redefine yourself and get a sense of progression may crop up.

This article discusses a possible career path (one of many) that Business Analysts may choose to consider. If you have been working as a Business Process Analyst in particular, you may want to consider the Business Process Manager role which allows you to supervise Business Process Analysts.

Objectives of the Business Process Manager Role

The Business Process Manager Role works closely with other business units to improve selected organisational processes. This will optimise the ability of the business to fully exploit the opportunities of process improvement and technology. This role is responsible for improving the operations of both automated and manual processes affecting existing systems.

The Business Process Manager responsibilities will include but may not be limited to the following:

RESEARCH

The Business Process Manager may research and summarise best practice standards relevant to process management and make recommendations based on best practice standards gleaned from research.

PROCESS DESIGN & ARCHITECTURE

The Business Process Manager may:

1. Design processes using defined methods.
2. Ensure process mapping is complete.
3. Provide feedback and guidance to other analysts.
4. Interview stakeholders and process owners to define processes.

This role may also be involved in:

• Business rules identification and definition
• Supporting the documentation of business processes using available tools
• Modelling and designing business processes. This applies to As-is and To-be processes
• Managing the process life cycle through design, implementation, optimization, redesign and renewal

PROCESS RECOMMENDATION & IMPROVEMENT

The Business Process Manager may:

1. Prepare process recommendation documents including presentations, process models, supporting metrics, business requirements and related impact analysis for less complex processes or for portions of larger or inter-related processes.
2. Apply process improvement methodologies to process improvement initiatives.
3. Recognise opportunities for process innovation
4. Manage improvement projects to implement process requirements and the outcomes of process review exercises
5. Drive the analysis, design and modelling of business processes by conducting user interviews/meetings
6. Support process value analysis aimed at identifying value-adding projects
7. Develop business cases for proposed process improvements, where applicable
8. Develop process strategies for prioritized projects and support the process improvement cycle from strategy, analysis, design, and implementation through monitoring to enable effective use of existing new and upgraded IT-based business systems
9. Gather business requirements and other process-related requirements
10. Engage stakeholders to obtain support and buy-in for changes.

PROCESS PERFORMANCE & REVIEW

The Business Process Manager may:

1. Collect data and work with stakeholders to support the definition and implementation of KPIs for measuring process success.
2. Review data post-implementation to measure process outcomes and impacts.
3. Develop recommendations to minimise the impact of changes.

GENERAL

The Business Process Manager may:

1. Develop processes, procedures, standards and guidelines to support the achievement of the objectives of the Business Process Management Team.
2. Provide comprehensive reporting and status back to management
3. Select, define and maintain the company standards in regards to Business Process Management

Though the Business Process Manager role may not exist in the current structure of your organisation, it is one that can be pitched to management if the benefits of having one on board can be clearly expressed and justified.