Total Quality of Management

technology is not in applications that make old processes work better, but in

enabling organizations to create new ways of working.

Information technology can provide, generate and collate real time data, can

help analyze the data/information for real-time decision-making. Not only has-

tening up the process(es), information technology helps the organization in quality

decision making. A good re-engineered process leverages information technology

to attain radical improvement. Employee empowerment can be really effective if

backed up by efficient real time information system. The scope of using IT in re-

engineering exercises is unlimited—its depth and breadth cover all aspects and

processes that a business encounters. Innovative re-engineered applications lever-

aging the power of IT can provide distinctive competitive advantages over the

nearest business rival.

A Few Wrong Notions about BPR

BPR is not aimed at automating things one is doing at present, nor is it about doing

things faster or doing what is being done now at a lower cost. Re-engineering is

not fixing a problem or making a patchwork. Many professionals think re-

engineering is a tool for getting rid of personnel, but it is not! It is not the same as

reorganizing, delayering or flattening an organization, though it is quite possible

that re-engineering may result in flatter and more responsive organizations. It is

no wonder then that this wrong perception on the part of some managers has

given an ‘initiative non grate’ stamp to BPR—the unions look upon the imitative

with doubt and fear. The opposition to BPR from trade union leaders is the result

of wrong application and in some cases the malicious intention of the management.

Leveraging BPR for TQM

Process re-engineering is not a straightforward matter of just following some set rules;

nor do all the re-engineered processes look alike or have all the characteristics

discussed above. Creating a new design requires insight, creativity and judgment.

Viewed from a right perspective, BPR is an essential program that helps an organ-

ization to maintain its process orientation through breakthrough process improve-

ments so that the company keeps pace with market changes. Readers need to see

that continuous process improvement is ensured through the combined effects of

breakthrough improvements, and continuous incremental improvement. The

breakthrough improvements after implementation need to be supported or

propped up by continuous incremental improvements to counteract the natural

‘sagging’ effect.

SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT

Selecting suppliers, and the developing and maintaining quality working rela-

tionship with them have become today an important strategic issue for business

200 MACRO STRATEGY