Business Process Re-Engineering: Information Systems Opportunities and Challenges

The focus of this publication is BPR - Business Process Re-engineering - and the challenges and opportunities it brings to the field of information systems. The key to successful BPR, from an information systems perspective, is perceived to lie in integration. Papers included in the book accordingly consider the following three areas, both individually and in combination: Business Process Re-engineering; Information Systems Opportunities or Challenges; Information Systems Integration.Business Process Re-engineering is the restructuring of organizational processes through the innovative use of information systems and technology (IS/T). The aim is to refit or revamp an organization to survive today's economic downturn and to emerge refreshed and re-vitalized to meet its social obligations and accept its economic challenges into the next century.Information systems opportunities and challenges facing business process re-engineers revolve around integration. It is believed that unidimensional, specialized, segmented and piecemeal approaches have been adopted in IS/T, which do not work. If IS/T is to achieve its full potential for social and economic good, there is little need for holistic, multi-dimensional, comprehensive approaches. IS/T researchers and practitioners should look to integrate their efforts with those of others in at least three ways.Integrating theory and practice will encourage relevant research and more rapid technology transfer. Integrating technical and social aspects will help alleviate those implementation issues that have bedevilled IS/T for decades. Integrating applications and subject matter will result in synergistic, multi-disciplinary approaches and solutions combining the interests of the many specialists involved in the field.The broad-ranging examination of these factors offered by the book highlights the overall need for information systems and technology integration, if active responses to the opportunities and challenges presented by Business Process Re-engineering are to be achieved.Glasson, Bernard C. is the author of 'Business Process Re-Engineering: Information Systems Opportunities and Challenges', published 1994 under ISBN 9780444820624 and ISBN 0444820620.