Implications for the Role of Information Systems in a Business Process Reengineering Environment

Organizations are increasingly adopting business process reengineering BPR initiatives to achieve multiple performance improvements through fundamental reengineering of work. Because of their expertise, techniques, and style of thinking, IS experts are well positioned to play a significant role in supporting and leading, when appropriate, many of the activities throughout reengineering projects. This role may include, but is not limited to, managing complex large-scale BPR projects, identifying and maintaining a technological vision in support of BPR efforts, developing process-oriented information systems, and managing the ongoing changes in business processes. Implications for such a role include repositioning IS to have business, customer, and information orientations, reinventing its activities, and resharpening its skills to properly function in such a new environment.