Case Studies for Business Reengineering Key Terms

Some key terms for looking at case studies for business reengineering

By J. Stoltzfus, writer/programmer LOCAL CITIZEN

The business reengineering process can be incredibly complex. "Shifting" a business into another gear is something the business leaders will want to consider from a variety of angles. One of these may be business reengineering or business process reengineering (BPR) case studies.

Case studies show how others have successfully changed course when faced with a business challenge. Here are a few key terms for things to consider when looking at a case study on BPR.

Mission statement

A mission statement is a declaration of purpose by a business. Look at these carefully when examining a case study to see how they change. Mission statements can be important clues to how a business was meant to function at a specific time.
Try: See more on the mission statement at the Center for Business Planning.

White paper

A white paper is an authoritative document on a specific problem and further analysis. White papers are now common in business and a BPN case study may contain these documents, or cues to them.
Try: Read more on the white paper and its origins at this page from Stelzner Consulting.

Lean

The lean method, based on the Toyota Business System, is a step-by-step guide to reengineering or restructuring a process. A case study on business reengineering may utilize lean methods or another useful structural methodology to achieve its aims.
Try: See more on working lean at Lean Enterprise Institute.

Simulation

Readers will often find simulations in BPR case studies. A simulation typically works through theoretical problems in a variety of ways to better understand likely potential outcomes. Many projects use simulations as a primary tool for predictive reasoning, whether it's in sales reports, business logistics, or any other capacity.
Try: Read up on simulation at the Institute for Simulation and Training.

Analytics

The root meaning of analytics is basically any kind of formal analysis, however, in business, analytics has come to have specific meanings in context, for example, in IT, where "web analytics" work in predictive situations. A case study on reengineering can include analytics that focus specifically on how to reengineer something in the overall business plan.
Try: See more on the definition of analytics at the Free Dictionary.

BPR tools

A variety of tools, such as GUI's and customizable data fields, are widely used in BPR software. These tools are useful in understanding likely outcomes and differing scenarios.
Try: See a range of BPR tools at Team Technology.